Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center

10/13/2026

Did you know? 47% of small and midsize businesses updated their cybersecurity solutions in the past year.

Cybersecurity doesn’t have to start with a major overhaul. Small, practical steps can help strengthen your business and build better habits over time.

The U.S. Small Business Administration put together a guide to help entrepreneurs strengthen their defenses against cyber threats, with practical tips and resources for protecting their businesses.

Learn more:
sba.gov/business-guide/manage-your-business/strengthen-your-cybersecurity

Source: Verizon Business, 2025 State of Small Business Survey

10/08/2026

Here’s something to get the wheels turning on succession planning: over half of U.S. employer firms are owned by people age 55 or older.

So what comes next for the business you’ve spent years building and the people who work there?

It might mean passing the business to a family member, transitioning ownership to employees, bringing in new leadership, or finding the right outside buyer.

There isn’t one path forward. Sometimes the first step is simply knowing your options.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Business Survey, reflecting 2023 data, as analyzed by LendingTree.

09/22/2026

Join Mohawk Valley SBDC Government Contracting Coordinator Gina Hayduk on October 15 at 9:00 to learn about federal and state certifications that can unlock opportunities for your business. In this event, you will learn about certifications such as Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Minority- and/or Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE). You will also learn about the benefits of certification and how the Small Business Development Center can help with the process.

Gina Hayduk is the Mohawk Valley SBDC’s Government Contracting Coordinator. She offers advisement and expertise to local businesses on the fundamentals of government contracting at the local, state, and federal levels and also assists businesses in identifying bidding opportunities, understanding the procurement process, and applying for various certifications.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-certification-fits-your-needs-tickets-2002061960217?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/15/2026

True or false: Students, faculty, and staff can turn to a campus-hosted SBDC for help exploring a business idea.

True! 💡

Many NYSBDC centers are hosted by colleges and universities, giving campus entrepreneurs access to no-cost business advisement, research, training, and practical guidance as they move from an idea toward their next step.

Their reach extends beyond campus, too. These centers serve entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout their regions, connecting campus resources with communities across New York State.

Have an idea worth exploring? Find your local center at nysbdc.org.

09/09/2026

🎉Are you the next great Madison County Business Story?

The 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is coming this fall, and we’re looking for entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners across Madison County who are ready to 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣. 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩. 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙. 𝙋𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝. 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬.

This five-night entrepreneurial development program will help participants strengthen their business, financial, marketing, and presentation skills — all while competing for a $𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲.

🗓 SAVE THE DATES
Entrepreneurial Development Sessions:
- October 8, 2026
- October 15, 2026
- October 22, 2026
- October 29, 2026
🏆 Pitch Night: November 5, 2026

Over the four development sessions, participants will work with experienced business professionals to strengthen their business story, understand their financials, identify their market and customers, develop a sales and marketing strategy, and create and practice a compelling business pitch.

The program will culminate in Pitch Night on November 5, where participants will present their businesses to a panel of judges and compete for $5,000 in prize funding to help grow their business.

Sponsored by Central New York Community Foundation in partnership with The Hub @ Partnership for Community Development and Launch Point - Madison, this is an opportunity to connect local entrepreneurs with the knowledge, resources, relationships, and funding they need to move their businesses forward.

Register Today: https://forms.monday.com/forms/c231eec98ec18821e962f3448d382d71?r=use1

09/09/2026

Yesterday, we welcomed Empire State Development's Global NY for a discussion about the resources available to businesses interested in exporting their goods and services to international markets. Thanks to all of the organizations that joined us, including thINCubator, MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, Mohawk Valley EDGE, Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, U.S. Department of Commerce, Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc., and SCORE Mentors. We appreciate the opportunity to bring together so many partners working to support businesses across the Mohawk Valley.

09/07/2026

This Labor Day, we recognize the people whose work helps small businesses move forward across New York. From Business Advisors working directly with entrepreneurs to center staff, researchers, and Central Office colleagues supporting the broader network, NYSBDC is powered by people who bring knowledge, care, and commitment to their work every day.

Thank you to our colleagues across the state for all you do to support New York’s small businesses and communities.

09/03/2026

Going Global: How to Find Customers, Get Paid, and Reduce Export Risk
Webinar registration: https://nysbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/1020242

Learn about federal resources and strategies that can help your business identify export opportunities, connect with international partners, navigate international payment methods, and manage export-related risk.

Join John Tracy, Senior International Trade Specialist with the U.S. Commercial Service, and Jonathan Brady, Lead Business Development Specialist with EXIM Bank, along with Kellie Greene, Certified Senior Business Advisor with the North Central Small Business Development Center and current NASBITE International Vice President.

September 9 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. EDT
Online | No fee

This webinar will provide an overview of key federal resources and strategies available to support U.S. companies engaged in international trade. Representatives from the U.S. Commercial Service and EXIM Bank, along with Kellie Greene, will discuss services that help businesses identify export oppor

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.

08/25/2026

Join us on September 15 & 17 for Canva Without the Chaos, a practical 2-part workshop series with Vanessa Colangelo of Life Well Branded, Co. geared towards helping small businesses and entrepreneurs streamline the creation of on-brand, professional looking content.

Canva has become one of the most widely used design tools for entrepreneurs—but for many small business owners, it can feel overwhelming. Between running your business, serving your clients, and wearing a dozen other hats, learning how to use Canva efficiently often gets pushed to the bottom of the list. And while there are endless YouTube tutorials, few are designed specifically with the small business owner in mind.

This two-part Canva masterclass was created to cut through that clutter. Over the course of two interactive workshops, you’ll learn how to set up, streamline, and actually use Canva in a way that saves time, strengthens your brand, and makes content creation feel less like a chore.

Bring your laptop if you’d like to follow along! Already have Canva Pro and a folder of brand assets? Perfect—you’ll get hands-on practice as we go. Don’t have Canva Pro yet (or a library of assets)? No worries. You’ll still walk away with all the knowledge, inspiration, and a full library of tutorial videos to implement at your own pace later—making it easier to decide if Canva Pro is worth it for you.

By the end, you’ll have the tools and confidence to bring your brand to life inside Canva—whether you’re ready to play in real time or prefer to learn now and apply later.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/canva-without-the-chaos-part-one-build-branded-content-with-confidence-tickets-1979867676517?aff=oddtdtcreator

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/canva-without-the-chaos-part-two-streamline-scale-get-creative-tickets-1979879669388?aff=oddtdtcreator