The newly donated funds will help fund the SBDC’s lineup of business consulting and training services offered to small business owners throughout the Antelope Valley as part of its ongoing commitment to serving the small business community in the Santa Clarita, Antelope and San Fernando valleys.

As a result of the donation — which follows an initial $10,000 contribution made to the SBDC by Wells Fargo in 2010 — SBDC business advisors will be able to continue to offer an expanded set of free business consulting services in its Antelope Valley service area.

“We are very grateful to Wells Fargo Bank for confirming their belief in the work we do in the Antelope Valley by renewing their financial sponsorship,” said SBDC Director Steve Tannehill. “With their help, over the last year we have been able to increase our consulting activities and training activities by 15 percent and 58 percent, respectively.”

During that same period of time the SBDC has helped Antelope Valley small business owners raise more than $1.1 million in capital, create 157 new jobs, and start three new small businesses.

“These successes would not have been possible without the support of Wells Fargo Bank and our other Antelope Valley partners,” added Tannehill.

Based on the notion that local economies thrive when small businesses thrive, several Antelope Valley organizations including Wells Fargo Bank, the City of Lancaster, the City of Palmdale and the South Valley WorkSource Center have partnered with the SBDC to bring increased consulting and training services to entrepreneurs throughout the region.

Through these partnerships, the SBDC serves as the core source of workshop trainers and business advisors, while Wells Fargo Bank, and the South Valley WorkSource Center provide the use of their facilities to host the SBDC’s lineup of low-cost workshops and no-cost consulting services.

“The SBDC is an outstanding asset to our community and that is why we are delighted to partner with them again this year,” said Kathie Voss, Vice President and District Manager for Wells Fargo Antelope Valley. “Wells Fargo is committed to supporting the economic advancement of everyone in our communities and SBDC plays a vital role in this vision.”

As part of the partnership SBDC business advisors regularly consult with small businesses and host workshops and seminars with topics including:

– Business start-up and expansion

– Business plan development

– How to obtain financing for your business

– Increasing sales for existing businesses

SBDC business training workshops are conducted at the Lancaster Wells Fargo branch training facilities located at Wells Fargo Training Room, 802 West Lancaster Blvd., in Lancaster.

The SBDC hosted by College of the Canyons was launched in January 2006. SBDC business advisors assist prospective and existing small business owners in starting, retaining or expanding their businesses by providing workshops, one-on-one consulting, and many other resources to the business community.

For more information about the SBDC hosted by College of the Canyons or the lineup of available services in Antelope Valley please contact the SBDC at 661-362-5900 or sbdc(at)canyons.edu, or visit www.cocsbdc.org.