Joel Libava
The U.S. Small Business Administration just named the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) its National SBDC of the Year. That’s one winner out of nearly 1,000 centers across the country.
This isn’t a participation trophy.
The SBA awards this honor annually during National Small Business Week. To earn it, a center must demonstrate excellence in consulting and training, measurable economic impact, and genuine innovation in how it helps small businesses start and grow.
The Florida SBDC at UCF checked every box.
Florida SBDC at UCF Numbers Tell the Story
Over the past decade, this center has worked with more than 15,500 businesses. It delivered over 206,700 hours of expert consulting. That’s not a rounding error. That’s an operation running at serious scale.
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Here’s what that consulting produced:
- $606.2 million in capital formation
- More than $1.03 billion in government contracts secured
- $948.8 million in sales growth
- 1,226 new businesses launched
- Over 8,200 jobs created
- More than 10,000 jobs retained
Those are real numbers. Real businesses. Real livelihoods.
Why This Matters to Entrepreneurs and Aspiring Franchisees
If you’re thinking about starting or growing a business, the SBDC network is one of the most underutilized resources available to you.
Services are free or low-cost. Advisors are experienced. And the Florida SBDC at UCF just proved what’s possible when a center is run the right way.
Finally, the resource center has been led since 2006 by regional director Eunice Choi. She’s retiring this summer after 28 years of service. The award is a fitting capstone to a remarkable career.
A Winning Central Florida Small Business Resource
Small business success doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Behind the scenes of most thriving entrepreneurs, there’s usually a mentor, an advisor, or a resource center that helped them navigate the hard decisions.
The Florida SBDC at UCF has been that resource for Central Florida for decades. And the SBA’s recognition makes it official.
If you’re building something — or thinking about it — find your local SBDC. Use it. That’s what it’s there for.
Note: The Florida SBDC at UCF will be formally recognized at a national awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., during National Small Business Week, May 3–9, 2026.
(Main image courtesy UCF)
About the Author
Joel Libava is The Franchise King® — an independent franchise advisor with 25+ years in the industry, two published books on franchising, and his writing has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, CNBC, Entrepreneur® Magazine and others. In addition, he wrote exclusively for the U.S. Small Business Administration blog for eight years. He doesn't sell franchises. Instead, Joel helps you figure out if franchise ownership is actually right for you — and if it is, teaches you his powerful, proven-to-work franchise research techniques, so you can make a smart, informed decision on a franchise to own and be your own boss.
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