Loretto  — Congressman Bill Shuster, along with Saint Francis University, announced that the Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program. The $87,000 award will enable the SBDC to establish a circuit rider program to provide expanded business assistance to prospective and existing small business owners in Bedford, Fulton and Huntingdon counties. The grant will also enable the SBDC to install videoconference equipment enabling additional training opportunities for those counties. The circuit rider program begins in May.

In addition to the circuit rider program, the videoconferencing will enable seminars to be sent to the three counties from the SBDC offices in Loretto. Additionally, if needed, SBDC clients will be able to meet “face to face” with an SBDC consultant on days other than when they are normally scheduled in a particular county.

“This is great news for small business owners throughout Bedford, Fulton and Huntingdon counties,” said Congressman Shuster. “A circuit rider program will allow for a greater degree of collaboration, cooperation and problem solving among the business community which will result in more successful and stable businesses where they are needed the most. With this new ability, the SBDC and its partners will help local, rural small businesses reach the next level, creating jobs and opportunity as they move forward.”

“The SBDC is thrilled to be able to expand our services in these three counties and we are glad that the USDA saw the merit of what we proposed.” said Ed Huttenhower, Director of the SBDC.