Economic Impact
The Alabama SBDC brings jobs to Alabama’s people, stability to our communities, and innovation to our economy.
We create possibilities for prosperity for the state’s most important economic engine by helping entrepreneurs and small business owners SURVIVE difficult times and THRIVE in a growing economy. Since 2018, Alabama SBDCs provided 67,522 hours of consulting to 11,727 client businesses, and hosted 780 training events for 26,233 attendees, creating a significant positive impact on Alabama’s economy.

Impact Snapshot
The Alabama SBDC releases an Economic Impact Snapshot annually. This summary report includes economic impact data such as jobs created, new business starts, capital infusion, government contracts, advising hours, total number of companies served, and total number of training events + attendees. The report includes ROI data that shows how many additional tax dollars are generated for the state and federal government for every dollar invested in the SBDC program.
Ensuring Adequate Coverage
2022 Client Demographics

The Alabama SBDC carefully monitors and manages the demographic and geographic diversity of its clients; the chart above shows the clients we served last year. Each quarter, the SBDC analyzes its client database to ensure that every constituent in Alabama is able to access to expert business advisors and research at the SBDC. Our goal is to ensure that minority-, woman-, and veteran-owned businesses are well-represented. The SBDC conducts a county-by-county analysis of clients, to ensure that both our rural and metro areas are receiving an appropriate level of assistance. The SBDC is intentional with its efforts to target and engage under-represented and under-served entrepreneurs and small business owners. The chart below shows who attended our targeted training events.
2022 Training Attendee Demographics

SBDC Clients Have Greater Sales, Add More Jobs Than Average Small Business
- SBDC Clients
- Average in AL
- SBDC Clients
- Average in AL