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Senate delays vote to add business advisor to Coas County; $100,000 per year increase for SBDC placed on hold
Summary
The committee considered an amendment to add $100,000 per year to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) budget to fund a business advisor in Coas County but senators divided over adding targeted increases during a tight budget; the measure was put on hold for further discussion.
Senators debated whether to add $100,000 per year in fiscal 2026 and 2027 to the Small Business Development Center budget to fund a single business advisor for Coas County. Supporters, including Senator Innes, said the SBDC delivers “biggest bang for the buck” for small businesses and that Coas County — recently designated a distressed area by the Senate — needs dedicated support.
Opponents said the increase amounted to a roughly 40% boost above the current line while other agencies were facing cuts. Senator Lang called the increase “not reasonable” given the overall budget constraints; he and others said restoring the SBDC to prior levels already reflected earlier legislative changes and additional targeted increases would be difficult to justify.
Senator Innes noted that Coas County previously had two advisors and that restoring one would be more prudent; supporters said federal and local collaborations amplify the state investment. After extended debate, the committee put the amendment on hold to allow further discussions and possible revisions.
