Small Business Development Center helps dozens succeed in Yuma area

YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — Arizona’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network in Yuma is helping local businesses succeed.

Just this year, they’ve helped 45 new businesses in Yuma.

They have recently expanded their reach to include businesses in Quartzsite and Parker.

SBDC is a federally funded program that helps anyone in the area who wants to start a business by providing counseling sessions and workshops on topics like taxes, marketing, and social media.

Veronica Rodriguez owns Diva’s Hair Studio by Veronica. She said she’s been able to leverage some of SBDC’s free resources to grow her business.

Rodriguez has owned her salon for 20 years.

She’s celebrating 10 years of being at her location plus she’s celebrating the new addition of spa and facial treatments at her salon as well as hair extensions.

It’s been a long journey. That’s why she’s celebrating Thursday with an appreciation day for her clients, offering free hair consultations for anyone who comes in.

“You just have to keep pushing through and inventing new things,” said Rodriguez.

Veronica said SBDC in Yuma has been a great resource.

“There’s a lot to a small business. Whether it’s taxes, applying for loans, anything you need you can go to them and they will help you,” she said.

Rodriguez now helps employ two hairdressers and two estheticians. It’s a milestone she’s proud of and even hopes to add on one more hairdresser.

“It really depends on how much you want to put into it because it’s not easy and it takes time. For me as a business owner in hair, I take a lot of classes to keep up with what’s going on. Even things like social media, it’s a lot of work,” she said.

Rodriguez hopes to inspire others who are looking to take that next step.

Mary Carmen Lopez Ruiz is a business counselor at SBDC.

She provides counseling sessions one on one with people who need guidance in taking that step.

“We want to empower the business owners not to give up, yeah, it’s a learning process but we are here to help,” Lopez Ruiz said.

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