Element Kombucha has tapped the UTSA Texas South-West Small Business Development Center many times. Photo courtesy of Element Kombucha.
APRIL 5, 2022 — Small businesses in Texas were able to survive the past year—and in many cases, thrive—despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key to their success was the UTSA Texas South-West Small Business Development Center (TXSW SBDC) Network. As a result of the network’s advising and training programs, its clients generated a total of $598 million worth of new sales, contacts and exports over the course of 2021, according to the TXSW SBDC annual report.
The network’s clients reported an average sales growth of 11% in 2021, even as many Texas businesses saw their sales decline an average 5.4% over the same period, the report states.
The center generated a return of $7.16 for every dollar invested, according to Albert Salgado, executive director of the TXSW SBDC Texas South-West SBDC Network.
“We assisted over 31,000 small businesses in our 79-county service delivery area,” said Salgado, adding that they helped the network’s clients gain traction and move forward despite the challenges of the pandemic.
“The recovery and success stories of these business owners and entrepreneurs demonstrate the resilience and resourcefulness that enabled them to grow their revenues, retain employees, and generate impressive state and federal taxes,” he said. “Together with our stakeholders, we will continue to foster business success, yielding impressive client economic impact for the State of Texas.”
Element Kombucha, a locally based specialty tea brewer and retailer, has tapped the TXSW SBDC many times.
"Of all the resources for small businesses in San Antonio, SBDC is the only one I’ve come back to again and again,” said Element Kombucha CEO Kevin Rayhons. “Their assistance during the pandemic helped keep us afloat and meet payroll, operating expenses and retain eight employees.
In addition to helping its clients garner new business and improve their sales in 2021, the TXSW SBDC Network also:
Formerly known as the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network, the TXSW SBDC recently changed its name to align itself with the larger Texas SBDC Network naming structure.
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