MARCH 22, 2021 — The UTSA Institute for Economic Development generated an overall direct economic impact in 2020 of $2.4 billion for the Texas economy. The Institute and its many centers—part of UTSA’s Knowledge Enterprise—facilitate economic, community and business development at the local, regional and national levels.
Shortly after the pandemic hit in 2020, IED staff were prepared to help business owners and entrepreneurs. The advisors at the IED’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) not only continued with their business consulting, training and research; they also quickly pivoted to help bring pandemic relief to small businesses, including financial assistance via the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) assistance.
Patrick and Wendy O’Kane of Always Best Care in San Antonio are business owners who sought assistance from the IED. Always Best Care is a non-medical health provider helping families’ loved ones manage daily routines, plus respite care during the holidays.
The O’Kanes built a relationship with IED when they started their business in 2016, so it was natural for them to turn to the IED for help when the pandemic hit. With the institute’s help, the O’Kanes were able to get PPP and EIDL funding that helped them save 90 jobs. They were also able to expand their business to a new location.
“We would not be in business today without the advice and counseling of our IED SBDC business advisor,” Patrick O’Kane said.
“The O’Kanes’ story is one of many Texas small businesses who turned disruption into opportunity through resiliency and dedication to the task,” added Rod McSherry, UTSA associate vice president for innovation and economic development. “We are proud and thankful that we, the staff of the IED, have the opportunity to support, advise and train Texas small businesses—the economic engine of our great state.”
To learn more about the Institute’s hard work and agility in the unprecedented pandemic year to support and advance Texas small businesses, read the stories in the institute’s 2020 annual report.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Learn to use the simple but powerful features of EndNote®, a citation management tool. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn to setup an EndNote library, save references and PDFs, and automatically create and edit a bibliography.
Virtual EventLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventOur GSAW Research Symposium begins with lunch and a Poster Presentation Competition. Faculty, staff, and graduate students are welcome to attend and review the exceptional research from UTSA's best and brightest.
Student Union Ballrooms 1 & 2, Main CampusHear from UTSA doctoral candidate in environmental science, Andre Felton, as he discusses best practices to discuss scholarly research in non-academic settings. Our 2023 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) winners will also share their winning presentations.
Student Union Ballrooms 1 & 2, Main CampusJoin this fun event if you want resume and interview resources, a job or internship, a snow cone from Kona Ice and to socialize.
Sombrilla PlazaIn partnership with San Antonio Metro Health, join us for a special lecture series during Public Health week! An esteemed panel will discuss the job market’s impact on public health departments in Texas municipalities.
Retama Auditorium (SU 2.02.02,) Main CampusThe Task Force for the Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence, Cyber, Computing, and Data Science at UTSA initiative will hold a virtual Campus Forum to discuss their findings in Phase I (data gathering). UTSA faculty, staff and students will have an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas before the Task Force moves into Phase II.
Virtual EventThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.