A few weeks ago, a fellow staff member at Prairie View A&M University wrote in about Bridget Ross, director of PVAMU’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and how she’s going above and beyond to serve the public.
“I recently met with Ross to learn about the activities of SBDC. I was highly impressed with the fine job she was doing with helping the PVAMU community, especially faculty, staff, and students who were wanting to grow their small businesses,” said the staff member.
I contacted Ross, who humbly took the spotlight off of her and onto the center.
“Our entire focus is the community. We help people and students here in Waller County and nearby Grimes County who are wanting to start or expand a business,” said Ross. “We offer free consulting and low-cost training seminars. We also help our customers develop strategies, figure out marketing strategies and ways to attract more customers, increase sales, and improve their productivity and profitability.”
PVAMU’s SBDC is part of the University of Houston SBDC Network, which serves 32 counties in Southeast Texas. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“Prairie View is the only HBCU in Texas to host an SBDC, and that is major,” said Ross. “Like PV Produces Productive People, we have a program that is producing a strong business community.”
Since 2011, the PVAMU SBDC has assisted over 900 people in Waller and Grimes Counties with starting or expanding their businesses. This number includes community businesses and student-, faculty-, and staff-run businesses.
To find out more information about the PVAMU SBDC, visit pvamu.sbdcnetwork.net.
Written by Marchita Shilo