Bennet Leads Colorado Delegation in Demanding Spending Authority for the Colorado Small Business Development Center

Mar 24, 2026| Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet led members of the Colorado delegation - including U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse, Brittany Pettersen, Jason Crow, Jeff Hurd, and Diana DeGette - to urge Administrator Kelly Loeffler to take action over the Small Business Administration's (SBA) failure to provide prompt spend authority for the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The Colorado SBDC is the only statewide, nationally accredited business assistance program serving all 64 counties, with 14 local service centers across the state.

"As of writing, Colorado's SBDC has not received a Notice of Award for its 2026 funding totaling more than $2.25 million, including its 2026 CR1 portion of $742,000 awarded to most SBDC Networks by early February. We urge you to release Colorado SBDC's spend authority immediately and request additional explanation for the agency's delay," wrote the lawmakers.

Since Congress authorized the SBDC program through the Small Business Development Centers Act in 1980, SBDCs have provided numerous resources and served as a critical element of small business development. In Colorado alone, over $81 million in 2024 sales growth is attributed to SBDC programming. Additionally, in 2026, Congress further recognized the influential role of SBDCs by increasing SBDC funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026.

"Small businesses are the lifeblood of Colorado's economy, constituting approximately 99 percent of Colorado businesses. Small business employment growth exceeded the national average over the past two decades, and, in Colorado, SBDCs were responsible for the creation of 1,800 jobs statewide in 2024. The absence of SBDC grant funds will jeopardize this continued expansion and add further strain for business owners in our state. Because of the delay of Colorado's SBDC fund authorization, the network was forced to reduce services for small business owners. Should the network experience further delays, it will have to furlough or lay off staff and potentially shut down service centers, most of which support businesses in rural areas of the state. These potential actions will have a devastating effect on Colorado's more than 700,000 small business establishments and their 1.2 million employees," continued the lawmakers.

"Any further delay in Colorado SBDC fund authorization will leave lasting damage on the state's economy, undermine the success of small enterprises in rural and local communities, and erode small business owners' trust in the SBA at a time of increasing macroeconomic uncertainty," concluded the lawmakers.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Administrator Loeffler:

We write with concern over the Small Business Administration's (SBA) failure to provide prompt spend authority for Colorado's Small Business Development Center (SBDC). As of writing, Colorado's SBDC has not received a Notice of Award for its 2026 funding totaling more than $2.25 million, including its 2026 CR1 portion of $742,000 awarded to most SBDC Networks by early February. We urge you to release Colorado SBDC's spend authority immediately and request additional explanation for the agency's delay.

In 1980, Congress authorized the SBDC program through the Small Business Development Centers Act (Pub. L. 96-302). Administered by the SBA, SBDCs became an integral part of small business development, providing free and accessible training, counseling, technical assistance, and resources for small businesses across the country. This program has been a success - in Colorado, over $81 million in 2024 sales growth is attributed to SBDC programming. Congress has recognized the important role SBDCs play in fostering sustainable small business growth and expansion, and increased SBDC funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (Pub. L. 119-75).

Small businesses are the lifeblood of Colorado's economy, constituting approximately 99 percent of Colorado businesses. Small business employment growth exceeded the national average over the past two decades, and, in Colorado, SBDCs were responsible for the creation of 1,800 jobs statewide in 2024. The absence of SBDC grant funds will jeopardize this continued expansion and add further strain for business owners in our state. Because of the delay of Colorado's SBDC fund authorization, the network was forced to reduce services for small business owners. Should the network experience further delays, it will have to furlough or lay off staff and potentially shut down service centers, most of which support businesses in rural areas of the state. These potential actions will have a devastating effect on Colorado's more than 700,000 small business establishments and their 1.2 million employees.

Any further delay in Colorado SBDC fund authorization will leave lasting damage on the state's economy, undermine the success of small enterprises in rural and local communities, and erode small business owners' trust in the SBA at a time of increasing macroeconomic uncertainty.

We look forward to your response and stand ready to work with you to ensure the swift authorization of 2026 funding for Colorado's SBDC.

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