Mississippi § 57-55-11 - Mississippi Small Business Development Center Established; functions and duties.

§ 57-55-11. Mississippi Small Business Development Center Established; functions and duties.

The Mississippi Small Business Development Center, hereinafter referred to as SBDC, is hereby established. The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized to establish the Mississippi Small Business Development Center at the University of Mississippi under the direct supervision of the chancellor of the university and the dean of the business school. It shall be the function and duty of the SBDC to: Develop a system to deliver management assistance to the small business community utilizing the resources of local, state and federal government programs, various segments of the private sector, and universities and colleges throughout the state; Make management and technical assistance available to small businesses in Mississippi by linking together the above resources; Develop small business opportunities for new start-ups and the expansion of existing businesses; Develop the economic area served by the SBDC by providing opportunities for increased productivity through utilization of modern technology as developed by government, the university and the private sector; Develop a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of economic and business data; Assist businesses in developing more efficient marketing and distribution channels, including foreign trade marketing; Increase opportunities for socially and/or economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs to enter the mainstream of our economy through an organized outreach program; and Increase small business viability so that the small business client “graduates” from the SBDC. The principal officer of the SBDC shall be an executive director who shall be appointed by the chancellor of the University of Mississippi, with the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning.