In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NH Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC) saw its business double in less than five years. The NH SBDC is celebrating its 40th anniversary at a time of increased visibility, expanded partnerships, new initiatives, and a shift to virtual business advising.

“It was one of those great opportunities, but also one of those challenges,” State Director Liz Gray says of the pandemic. “We’ve also expanded our number of partnerships throughout the state and become much more well known, which is absolutely fantastic.”

The NH SBDC provides free business advising and programs to businesses in any stage of growth. Most of the businesses have less than 30 employees.

The NH SBDC is part of the national SBDC network. It has centers staffed with business advisors across the state, with recent expansion into northern NH and rural areas. In 2019, the center served 860 clients. Comparatively, at the start of the fourth quarter of 2024 it had already served more than 1,600 businesses, according to Gray and Jason Cannon, associate state director.

Since 2014, it has been located within the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of NH. “That opened up a lot of opportunities for us and for our clients,” Cannon says, adding that Gray’s leadership over the past six years was also instrumental in growing the organization.

Since the pandemic, the center has launched several initiatives, including the Inclusivity Commitment program led by Loick Muyuka. The NH SBDC meets with community and nonprofit leaders to bring more business services to underserved communities.  “We want to build trust and those authentic relationships with businesses across the state and from all walks of life,” says Gray.

Additionally, the center started a cybersecurity program with the NH Tech Alliance offering free cyber reviews for small businesses and nonprofits,
Gray says.

This past spring, the center launched the NH Export Accelerator program and graduated its first class. The program operates in partnership with the SBA, the U.S. Commercial Service, and the state’s Office of International Commerce to help businesses create an export plan, explore international markets, and gain new clients and revenue opportunities, Gray says.

Looking ahead, Gray says SBDC is focusing on resiliency planning and continuity of operations, succession planning, and helping businesses on issues including artificial intelligence and sustainable business practices. “We are staying very focused on who we are including an organization and what we do well,” she says. “We offer high-value business advising customized to the needs of individual business, and that is what makes us special.”