The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has named the West Central Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as the Minnesota Small Business Development Center of Excellence 2025. The West Central SBDC was chosen for its excellence and innovation in training, counseling and advisory board engagement and strategic partnership best practices.

The West Central SBDC, hosted by the Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) in Moorhead, Minn., provides consulting, training and research to assist small business owners in start, growth, and transition phases. They work with committed, skilled professionals who volunteer to provide technical assistance and mentorship to business owners. The West Central SBDC’s philosophy is based on the Minnesota SBDC principle, “helping our small businesses is critical to our economy, and the quality of our communities.” 

“The West Central Small Business Development Center has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering small business success across west central Minnesota,” said Brian McDonald, Minnesota’s SBA District Director. “Their dedication to providing exceptional guidance, resources and support to entrepreneurs has made a significant impact on the region’s economic growth. We are proud to recognize their excellence and celebrate their well-deserved achievement as the 2025 Small Business Center of Excellence for Minnesota.”

Ian Carlstrom, Regional Director of the West Central SBDC, leads a team of consultants to provide no-cost, customized training and business advising services to nine counties in west central Minnesota, near the North Dakota border. Ian’s team ensures business owners and entrepreneurs receive the support they need. In addition to quality consulting and training services provided by the SBDC, the West Central team represents the value that SBA entrepreneurial development programs bring to communities and small businesses—particularly in rural areas. They partner with the Minnesota District office to host training sessions for both the SBA 7(a) and 504 programs and have co-hosted several training events including the Boots to Business Reboot, and contracting events.

The SBA’s Minnesota District Office will have a local celebration to recognize West Central SBDC, as well as other state awardees who have empowered entrepreneurial success, created jobs and driven economic growth in the last year, ahead of National Small Business Week, which will be held May 4-10.

Local events will be featured on www.sba.gov/events. On social media, follow the #SmallBusinessWeek hashtag for more about local awards and events.

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.