Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
About the Small Business Development Center
The TROY SBDC provides consulting to help new entrepreneurs evaluate their business ideas and existing businesses remain competitive in today's dynamic, global marketplace. Our business advisors have advanced degrees and varied backgrounds with years of practical experience.SBDC Services
Compliance Assistance
The SBDC provides guidance on business compliance, helping entrepreneurs understand and adhere to the various regulations and legal requirements necessary for operating a business.
Business Planning
We offer expert advice on creating effective business plans, essential for outlining your business goals, strategies, and financial projections.
Marketing Support
Our team assists in developing robust marketing strategies to enhance your business's visibility and growth potential.
Business Management and Financing
The Alabama SBDC Network specializes in one-on-one business advising and educational training. Our programs are tailored to the needs of small businesses, focusing on skill enhancement and financial management. In 2021, the network helped over 3,700 small businesses and facilitated almost $77 million in external financing, creating over 970 jobs.
Government Contracting (APEX)
Since 1985, the SBDC has been offering professional assistance to Alabama companies looking to compete for government contracts. Our certified procurement specialists utilize a unique bid-match database system to aid small businesses in bidding on government contract opportunities, having helped businesses win over $3 billion in awards over the last three years.
International Trade
The Alabama International Trade Center, established in 1979, provides one-on-one trade assistance to small businesses aiming to increase export sales. Our export professionals offer counseling, research, and training to help firms enter foreign markets and secure export financing for Alabama-made products.
One-On-One Advising
The Small Business Development Center at Troy University provides consulting with trusted advisors to level the playing field and empower your business. Our business advisors have advanced degrees and varied backgrounds with years of practical experience.
Our advisors can help new entrepreneurs evaluate their business ideas by giving honest, forthright advice. Business advising can also ensure existing businesses remain competitive in today's dynamic, global marketplace.
Request Advising Services
A Troy SBDC business advisor can assist in the following areas:
- Developing Business Plans and Loan Proposals
- Creating Marketing Strategies
- Identifying Funding Sources
- Marketing to the Government
- Starting a Business
One-on-one advising services with SBDC business advisors are always completely confidential and provided at no cost. We are available to address any questions or concerns you may have about our services! Please feel free to email our Center directly.
Training
The Troy University SBDC offers affordable training seminars on business topics including business planning, marketing, finance, management, taxes, and government contracting. Our training seminars are designed to help broaden your business knowledge, no matter if you are a new business owner or have been in business for years.
For individuals who are just starting a business or those existing business owners
who are looking to strengthen their knowledge base, one of our most popular programs
is the NxLeveL Business Planning Series. NxLeveL is a series of ten, three-hour sessions
where participants gain a clear understanding of the financial, managerial, and technical
requirements of starting and operating a business. The motto of NxLeveL is “learn
it today, use it tomorrow”. During the ten-session/ten-week series, participants explore
and evaluate the feasibility of their ideas, learn common pitfalls to avoid, and discover
ways to increase their probability of success.
Webinars and Workshops
At the SBDC at Troy University, we offer a diverse range of webinars and workshops designed to support and educate small business owners and entrepreneurs. Our sessions cover a wide array of topics, including financial management, government contracting, compliance, international trade, and more. These programs are tailored to equip participants with the necessary tools and knowledge to successfully manage and grow their businesses.
Stay Updated: Our webinars and workshops are continually updated to reflect the evolving needs of the business community. To view our current offerings and to register, please visit the Alabama Small Business Development Center website.
LEARN MORE
Current Programs
Start Your Business Class (DHR Program)
Designed for SNAP benefits recipients, this program provides comprehensive entrepreneurial education over 20 weeks. It includes modules on entrepreneurship, business basics, and marketing. If you are a SNAP recipient interested in enrolling, sign up to get qualified by the Department of Human Resources.
Urban Poverty and Entreprenuership Initiative
Partnering with the USDA & Notre Dame, this program targets low-income populations in Daleville, Troy, and Phenix City. It includes intensive business education, mentorship, and networking opportunities, aiming to empower individuals, stimulate local economies, and foster a culture of entrepreneurship.
The ALDOT DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) Program
is a federally mandated program administered by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). The program is designed to increase the participation of businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in state and local transportation contracting. This program typically includes businesses owned by minorities, women, and other disadvantaged groups. It aims to ensure a level playing field and to foster equal opportunity in ALDOT contracts, as well as to improve the capacity of DBE firms to compete, successfully, in the marketplace outside of the DBE Program.
USDA Food Venture Programs
This initiative focused on leveraging Alabama's culinary traditions to create self-employment opportunities in rural areas, transforming local food practices into viable income sources and promoting entrepreneurship. Food Truck owners, restaurant owners and future entrepreneurs had the opportunity to learn strategies to grow their business and marketing mentoring.
"A partnership program with U.S. Small Business Administration."
Contact
Director, Lead Business Advisor: Juliana Bolivar
jbolivar@troy.edu
SBDC at Troy University
63 S Court Sq
Troy, AL 36081
334-808-6793
jbolivar@troy.edu
SBDC at Troy University
63 S Court Sq
Troy, AL 36081
334-808-6793
Success Stories
Rural Small Business of the Year
A Wiregrass business with roots in family, agriculture and entrepreneurship has receiving
statewide recognition.
Mia Scott, owner of Mt. Moriah Farms in Dothan, has been named Alabama's Rural-Owned Small Business of the Year as part
of the 2026 National Small Business Week honors. The recognition places her business
among a select group of small businesses being celebrated across the state this year.
Scott's story is one that reflects both personal vision and the kind of practical support that can help a business grow with purpose.
Troy University SBDC strengthens Alabama–Mexico business connections through international networking initiative
Building on Alabama's growing efforts to strengthen economic ties with Mexico, the Troy University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) recently partnered with Tecnológico de Monterrey's Centro PyME to host a first-of-its-kind international networking initiative connecting entrepreneurs and small businesses from Alabama, Mexico and across the southern United States.
The two-part virtual initiative was developed in response to Alabama's increasing focus on international trade and investment opportunities, following Gov. Kay Ivey's recent efforts to strengthen the state's economic relationship with Mexico.
First graduates of statewide entrepreneurship programs are applauded
It began with a $9,000 investment and a simple idea: help position Alabama as a national leader in entrepreneurship-based workforce development.
On May 29, the Troy University Small Business Development Center celebrated a milestone years in the making, hosting the first graduation ceremony for participants in the Alabama Department of Human Resources' A-RESET Start Your Business program.
What started as a small pilot initiative has evolved into one of Alabama's most innovative workforce development models, earning attention for its ability to connect entrepreneurship, job training and economic mobility.
Through the SBDC at TROY, students get real-world experience and make an impact on the community
For Troy University students who have worked with the Alabama Small Business Development Center at Troy University, the experience has meant more than an internship, a graduate assistantship or a line on a résumé.
It has offered a front-row seat to the University's impact in the community.
Through the SBDC, students have worked alongside professional advisors and project contractors to support small business owners, grant-funded community programs and outreach efforts across the region. The work gives students hands-on experience while helping them see how their University's mission reaches beyond the classroom.