Onondaga Watertown SBDC Turns 40!

Celebrating Onondaga Watertown SBDC's 40th anniversary!

Forty years ago, Onondaga Community College opened the first Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Central New York, launching a legacy of entrepreneurship that has since empowered thousands to turn their business dreams into reality. From its humble beginnings as a successor to the SCORE mentorship program, the SBDC has grown into the most successful one-to-one business mentorship initiative in U.S. history, demonstrating the profound impact of personalized support and guidance. Our advisors have supported entrepreneurs across nearly every economic sector, transforming dreams into thriving businesses.

One such entrepreneur is Anthony Folk, whose journey exemplifies the transformative impact the SBDC has on small businesses.  Anthony came to me as a client while I still served as a business advisor for the Binghamton University SBDC in the fall of 2018.  Anthony was seeking to acquire Chenango Point Cycles, an institution in the biking universe of the Southern Tier.  Although limited start-up cash on hand was an obstacle, Anthony’s vision, drive and commitment convinced his banker and this business advisor that he was “the real deal.”  Working closely with the seller and the bank, we collaborated to save a valuable small business, preserving jobs and breathing new life into something pretty special.  Since that time, despite the challenges of COVID, Anthony has transformed Chenango Point into a dominant presence for biking enthusiasts in the region.  He was recognized for this accomplishment by being selected as the SBA Syracuse District Entrepreneur of the Year in 2022.

Anthony is just one of thousands of success stories that bring our mission to life, showcasing the real impact of our efforts. These stories demonstrate the power of personalized mentorship and the critical role the SBDC plays in the success of small businesses.

Since 1984, our Regional SBDC has achieved:

• Capital infusion*:             $706,186,353
• Client Served:                    58,854
• New business starts:       4,454
• Jobs impacted:                  27,078
• Counseling Hours:            453,733

​*Capital infusion includes owner contributions, bank loans, grants or other sources of capital leveraged to start, expand or invest in a business.


Of all these data points, the “clients served” metric feels the most significant to me. Nearly 60,000 lives have been impacted through our work of educating and advising. Most of these clients did not start a business, and in many cases, that was the right decision. We may never fully grasp how many homes or life savings we helped preserve by guiding clients away from unviable business ideas. Yet, nearly 4,500 of those we served did go on to start their businesses with our assistance. This achievement is a tribute to the more than 50 business advisors who have dedicated their energy and expertise to helping people achieve their goals.

Our team is composed of a truly special group of individuals, with over 250 years of cumulative small business ownership, management, or leadership experience across a variety of industries and disciplines. This experience is invaluable and cannot be substituted by a Google search or a textbook. It is practical, hands-on intuition born of being in the game. What truly sets this team apart is the empathy and compassion they bring to their work, making a meaningful difference to the entrepreneurs they serve.

Our role…helping others make informed decisions and taking informed action…it is driven by a mission mindset.  The SBDC team is forged by respect and integrity, aspirations to be trusted by the people who seek our guidance, and a dedication to improving our communities one business at a time.  There is nothing like it, and no better place I would rather serve.

Thank you to all of the people who have chosen the SBDC as their provider of choice to assist with their entrepreneurial journey.  We stand ready to serve the next generation in their efforts to start and grow businesses in our communities.

Supporting small business is a team sport, and we are grateful to have a network of exceptional partners committed to fostering a positive environment for entrepreneurs. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Onondaga Community College, Jefferson Community College, and SUNY Oswego for their unwavering support of the SBDC program over the past 40 years. This program would not be possible without these institutions, who understand the value the SBDC brings to our entrepreneurial ecosystem. I also want to thank our county, regional, and state economic development partners, many of whom serve on our Advisory Board, for their continued collaboration and guidance.

Finally…and on behalf of all of people we help every day…thank you to my team.  You are an amazing group and I am truly fortunate to have the opportunity to serve with each and every one of you. 

I reflect back on the day Anthony accepted his award from the SBA every now and again.  His remarks were truly moving for everyone who filled his tiny shop that sunny May day.  It was a powerful, emotional moment that, on a deeply personal level, serves as a constant reminder of why I and my team do what we do every day.  His life, and the life of his family and future generations, was changed forever.

That fact alone is the greatest of rewards.


​Robert Griffin
Regional Director
20 September 2024