The University of Central Oklahoma Small Business Development Center has launched its first satellite offices in Edmond and Norman, expanding its outreach within the community.

The Edmond office is located at 825 E. 2nd St., Suite 107, and Norman location is on Campus Corner, 710 Asp Ave., Suite 307.

Until now, businesses in the greater metro area received guidance from staff at the SBDC’s main office in downtown Oklahoma City.

“We foresee a large increase in the number of clients we can serve annually, adding approximately 100 new clients at each location each year,” said SBDC regional director Susan Urbach.

The Small Business Jobs Act, authorized by President Obama in September 2010, made available more than $50 million in grants to Small Business Development Centers nationwide.

“Expanding our locations not only means we will serve a greater number of businesses, but also we can serve our clients closer to their homes,” said Urbach.

In addition to new locations, the SBDC will implement tools to better counsel owners of established businesses, including research that will allow owners to compare their businesses to industry standards.

“Often, people assume the SBDC helps only new businesses, when in reality, the majority of our clients are existing businesses,” said Urbach.

Since being established in 1984, Central’s SBDC has served more than 10,000 businesses, helping them produce millions of dollars in capital, while generating or retaining approximately 355 jobs per year.

Offering low-cost services to entrepreneurs and small-business owners, the SBDC assists clients with developing better management strategies, which increase sales, boost profits and create jobs.

For more information about the SBDC, or to become a client at any of the three locations, contact the main office at (405) 232-1968.