State Of Nebraska Businesses And The NBDC
The NBDC administers the small business development programs in Nebraska. During the early years of its operation, the center provided funding to Chadron State College, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kearney State College, and Wayne State College. This funding was to provide services similar to the small business institute-classroom-based consulting. Federal regulations require that centers have full-time directors. This requirement caused difficulty for the NBDC in working with UNL. As a result, the NBCD stopped subcontracting to UNL and opened an office in Lincoln shared with the Chamber of Commerce. However, all employees report to UNO.
Subcontracting continued with Peru, Chadron, Kearney, and Wayne as well as the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The NBDC also has employees in centers located in North Platte, and Scottsbluff. The NBDC has supported these offices since in 1980 when it began to receive state funding. However, other sources of financing have been needed since many allocated funds remain static through time while expenses, such as salaries, increase. Without such extra sources of funding, the NBDC would be a declining operation.
The advent of the IBM PC opened an avenue for further growth of the NBDC. Roger Hayen, who chaired the Decision Science Department at that time, suggested that the Center offer computer training. The NBDC received a $25,000 grant from the University of Nebraska Foundation to initiate a computer training program. The grant provided funds to purchase eleven computers to form the first training laboratory located downtown in the Peter Kiewit Conference Center. The NBDC made enough money during its first year of operation to underwrite the establishment of a computer laboratory on the first floor (lower level) of the CBA building. The computer training program has had continuous growth. Today this program generates annual revenues approximating $1.5 million.