STAC Opens Small Business Development Center

St. Thomas Aquinas College officially welcomed the Lower Hudson Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to campus with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 6, 2025. The event celebrated the start of an exciting partnership focused on advancing economic growth, supporting local entrepreneurs, and expanding experiential learning for students.

“The Grand Opening event marked a momentous new chapter for St. Thomas Aquinas College and for the many small businesses in our region,” said President Ken Daly. “By hosting the Lower Hudson Valley SBDC, we are deepening our mission of supporting workforce development, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating hands-on opportunities for our students to engage with the business community. I am delighted that several of our students and alumni have already been hired by SBDC.”

The ceremony gathered government leaders, business owners, students, faculty, and community members to celebrate the launch of the Center at its new home on St. Thomas Aquinas College’s campus. Speakers included New York SBDC State Director Sonya Smith, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, Lower Hudson Valley SBDC Regional Director Louis Scamardella, and President Ken Daly and Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Mike DiBartolomeo from St. Thomas Aquinas College, who all emphasized the transformative impact this partnership will have on the community and the College. During his remarks, County Executive Ed Day declared March 6, 2025, as Lower Hudson Valley Small Business Development Center at St. Thomas Aquinas College Day and presented the group with an official proclamation. 

The Lower Hudson Valley SBDC’s new location on campus makes St. Thomas Aquinas College one of only two private institutions in New York State to serve as an official host site for an SBDC, joining a network typically hosted by CUNY and SUNY campuses. The Center provides no-cost, confidential, one-on-one business advisement, training, and research to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam counties.

“The commitment of the St. Thomas Aquinas College leadership team and campus community to hosting an SBDC underscores what we all know to be true: great things happen when education and entrepreneurship come together,” said Sonya Smith, New York SBDC State Director. “This collaboration is a testament to STAC’s support for the regional community, economic development, and lifelong learning. By welcoming the Lower Hudson Valley SBDC to its community, the College joins a distinguished network of institutions in New York that serve as starting points for growth and opportunity.”

In 2024 alone, the Lower Hudson Valley SBDC served nearly 570 active clients and facilitated more than $7.8 million in capital impact for small businesses in the region. By situating the center within St. Thomas Aquinas College, the partnership will also offer students access to unique internships, cooperative education opportunities, and entrepreneurial resources, enriching their academic experience and professional readiness.

The grand opening concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and official sign unveiling, symbolizing the start of this dynamic collaboration aimed at driving economic development and creating new pathways for student engagement.