Central Mountain SBDC asks Lake County to continue cash match as it cites growth and reporting challenges
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Summary
Audrey, the new executive director of the Central Mountain Small Business Development Center, told commissioners the center served more than 1,000 unique clients and nearly 3,000 advising sessions year‑to‑date and asked Lake County to continue its local cash match to leverage SBA funds while staff manage CRM transition and federal funding delays.
Audrey, the new executive director of the Central Mountain Small Business Development Center, asked the Lake County Board of County Commissioners to continue the county’s local cash match for the SBDC network, saying the center provides low‑cost advising and training across three counties and helps businesses secure capital.
The request matters because the SBDC combines federal SBA support with local cash matches that trigger program funding. Audrey said the network has engaged more than 1,000 unique clients and delivered roughly 3,000 one‑on‑one advising sessions and more than 557 trainings year‑to‑date; she also cited self‑reported capital infusions of nearly $3,500,000 and credited the SBDC with 46 business starts in the three‑county region. Those figures, she said, are affected by a recent CRM transition that complicates data collection and by delays in federal funding.
Audrey explained the funding structure: an SBA allocation is paired with local cash matches. In the Central Mountain service area, Chaffee contributes the largest share of the local match; Lake and Park counties each contribute a smaller percentage. She asked Lake County to “continue your investment” at last year’s level so the SBDC can sustain advising, workshops and disaster‑recovery assistance. Audrey said the center also pivots quickly to address local needs such as childcare rollout, disaster recovery and insurance navigation.
Commissioners asked for a breakdown of how many Lake County residents the SBDC served versus neighboring counties; Audrey said she can produce that report and email her slide deck to staff for the meeting packet. No formal action was taken during the presentation; commissioners said they would review the materials as part of budget deliberations.
The board is expected to consider funding allocations during its budget process; presenters were invited to submit additional documentation for commissioners’ review.