Clemson Region SBDC: Supporting South Carolina’s small businesses when they need it most

For small businesses across the Upstate, the Clemson Region SBDC has played an instrumental role in their business journey. Housed within the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, the Clemson Region SBDC provides free consulting, training programs and access to resources to hundreds of South Carolina small businesses each year.

In the past five years, more than 8,000 small businesses and entrepreneurs have been served by the Clemson Region SBDC, an equivalent of 19,341 consulting hours and 250 client-facing training events. When Hurricane Helene hit South Carolina, small business owners throughout the Upstate faced challenges due to its effects. To help local businesses during this time, the Clemson Region Small Business Development Center (SBDC) worked together with community partners to provide resources for the affected business owners.

Clemson’s Region SBDC supports during a crisis

The Clemson Region SBDC worked with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to create temporary business recovery centers in the region to provide support to small businesses during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. These centers were created in collaboration with local partners like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and Hughes Development Corporation and became centralized locations where business owners could seek guidance and financial support.

The Clemson Region Small Business Development Center (SC SBDC) has once again been a leading advocate for citizens trying to restore their lives and businesses. Their efforts, under the leadership of Ben Smith and his team, have been a beacon of hope to those impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. The Clemson SBDC has supported the Helene Disaster Recovery by staffing all five Team SC Community Days, securing a temporary location for the SBA’s Disaster Support Center in Greenville, and offering ongoing one-on-one consulting. They are also aiding the SBA Rural Disaster Mobile Unit in Greenwood and staffing a Rural Business Support event at Greenville Tech. The Clemson SBDC is a tremendous asset to the upstate – day in and day out – especially when responding to our citizens in their time of greatest need.

Senator Thomas C. Alexander, President of the South Carolina Senate

At these centers, business owners found assistance with applying for SBA disaster loans and finding other recovery resources. The SBDC’s consultants helped small business owners assess damages, develop recovery plans and understand how to access federal funds.

Strong partnerships, stronger impact

Together with its community partners, the Clemson Region SBDC was able to help small businesses in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Hank Hyatt and Hughes Development Corporation offered their support and helped the SBDC to provide space, resources, and expertise so that business owners could access them.

Andrea Galehouse, Clemson Region SBDC manager, says these partnerships are extremely valuable. “Partnerships remind us that we’re stronger together. By leveraging combined resources and expertise, the SBDC empowers small businesses to tackle challenges, seize opportunities, and grow—not just in times of crisis, but at every stage of their journey.”

While Clemson’s SBDC plays an important role in disaster response, it supports business owners throughout the year by empowering them with tools to grow, adapt and prepare for the future.

“The small business owners that have the courage to improvise, adapt and overcome in the wake of great adversity to build something bigger than themselves in service of others embody the best of the American Spirit,” says Ben Smith, director of Clemson Region SBDC. “It is an honor for our Clemson SBDC Team to be of service to the entrepreneurs of South Carolina as we work daily to transform lives through our work. ‘Service Builds Community’ is not just a slogan at Clemson but a mindset, and our Clemson SBDC Team is blessed to be a part of that collective.”

Visit the Clemson Region SBDC website to learn more.