Mid-Hudson/Catskills Small Business Development Center

09/02/2026

SUNY New Paltz, The State University of New York, is a four-year, public liberal arts college located in the Hudson Valley region.

09/02/2026

https://www.thinkdutchess.com/td-programming/

The Mid-Hudson/Catskills SBDC is proud to partner with Think Dutchess Alliance for Business.

Join us for the first of their fall seminar series on Sept 9th starting at 5:45pm.

Business advisor, Ben Caldwell will be discussing Government Contracting and how your business can enter the public marketplace. Don't miss out on this educational opportunity, and get your questions answered.

This is a free in-person event, but registration is required, and space is limited.

Follow the link for more details, and to register: https://www.thinkdutchess.com/td-programming/

09/02/2026

Know a founder who is thinking about raising capital but doesn't know where to start?

The Hudson Valley Venture Hub is hosting a free, four-part Fundraising Education Series this fall for founders with an idea or early-stage product who haven't started fundraising yet.

The series will cover:

• Fundraising 101 — September 16
• Founder Stories — September 30
• Investor Perspectives — October 14
• Workshop & Office Hours — October 28 at SUNY New Paltz

Founders will learn about different funding options, hear honest stories from entrepreneurs who have raised capital, learn how investors evaluate startups, and get direct feedback on their own fundraising materials.

Each session stands alone, so founders can join whenever it makes sense for them.

Learn more and register at the link below:

SUNY New Paltz, The State University of New York, is a four-year, public liberal arts college located in the Hudson Valley region.

08/31/2026

Every number in an Impact Report connects back to a person, a place, or a moment.

Our Community Showcase closes this August with a look at the faces, places, small businesses, and events that shaped the past year across the New York SBDC network. Together, these moments reflect the character of the communities we serve and the shared commitment to entrepreneurship that connects our work statewide.

View the 2025 Impact Report: https://bit.ly/NYSBDC_2025_ImpactReport_Community

08/27/2026

Leaving a federal career to become a full-time entrepreneur was a major transition for Chelan Vanno. She had a clear vision for The Portal Utica: a place where individuals, teams, and organizations could step outside their usual environments and approach growth and change in new ways.

Located in Utica’s historic Bagg’s Square district, The Portal Utica is a creative leadership and innovation studio offering strategic facilitation, immersive experiences, professional development, and wellness-based practices.

As the studio moved from build-out into early operations, Chelan faced the less visible work of turning that vision into a sustainable business. She worked with Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center Business Advisor James Willey to think through pricing, use of the space, and which early client opportunities could help establish the model.

When budget concerns arose around an early corporate engagement, James encouraged Chelan to treat it as a strategic pilot rather than reduce the experience itself. Chelan offered the first employer cohort a lower price while preserving the full immersion. The engagement led to additional work and helped demonstrate the value of the studio’s approach. Chelan also developed a three-month nonprofit intensive that became a long-term partnership, helping stabilize revenue and build visibility.

“Having the support of the SBDC made the transition from my federal career into full-time entrepreneurship feel significantly more stable,” Chelan shared. “As a small business owner, you’re often making decisions in isolation, and having experienced guidance makes a real difference.”

Entering its second year, The Portal Utica is continuing to grow through the same kind of thoughtful, intentional decisions that helped shape its launch.

08/26/2026

Programs expand what business owners can learn. Partnerships expand what they can access.

The Programs and Partnerships section of our 2025 Impact Report highlights 558 webinars and workshops reaching more than 11,123 attendees, along with 83 internal training events that strengthened knowledge across our network. It also brings together work in international trade, Grow with Google, entrepreneurship education, cybersecurity, and statewide collaboration.

Explore the section: https://bit.ly/NYSBDC_2025_ImpactReport_Programs

08/25/2026

We are both excited and sad to share the long time advisor, Jean Morris, is retiring.

Jean Morris served as a Certified Business Advisor with the Mid-Hudson/Catskills SBDC bringing her extensive first-hand knowledge of the restaurant and food business. After teaching business management at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park for many years, she joined the SBDC advising staff in 2014. Jean also served as the Mid-Hudson SBDC Center Director from 1987-1994.

Jean has been an invaluable advisor and colleague. She has worked with over 1,250 (including while the Center Director) clients and secured $16.2 million in economic impact during her tenure with the SBDC.

Jean has assisted clients with writing their business plans, analysis and preparation of financial statements, and assisting with locating funding sources for her clients.

We are sad to see Jean go, but we are grateful to have had her knowledge and skills supporting our clients and the center. Thanks for everything, Jean.

08/24/2026

Good decisions start with good information.

The Data and Research section of our 2025 Impact Report highlights how the NYSBDC Research Network and Data Hub turn information into insight. It brings together statewide counseling, training, and financial impact; results by county; and industry trends that help us better understand New York’s evolving small-business landscape.

Explore the Data & Research section: https://bit.ly/NYSBDC_2025_ImpactReport_Data

08/20/2026

“Visibility is not vanity. It’s access.”

A New Vision, A Stronger Voice explores why building awareness of the New York SBDC matters. Through a refreshed identity, stronger communications, community outreach, and more intentional storytelling, we are working to make sure entrepreneurs across the state know where to find no-cost, expert support.

Read the feature in our 2025 Impact Report: https://bit.ly/NYSBDC_2025_ImpactReport_Vision