Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Technology Park takes a big step forward Sept. 28 when the U.S. Small Business Administration opens its newest small business development center on campus.

The SBDC for Innovation, as the center will be called, will offer a range of services provided by Cal Poly faculty and others to support tech entrepreneurs in the region. The center will operate under the auspices of the SBA’s Fresno District Office and UC Merced, which has the contract to run the SBDCs located within the Fresno District’s territory.

Cities such as Ventura and Santa Maria are demonstrating that small business incubators can flourish with the right mix of ideas, people, funding and supporting services. SBDCs in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties have really elevated their game in recent years, helping to create hundreds of jobs in the region.

Congratulations to San Luis Obispo Mayor Jan Marx, SBA District Director Carlos Mendoza and Susan Opava and Jim Dunning at Cal Poly. The SBDC for Innovation is a big step forward for the university and the communities it serves.