The North Metro Denver Small Business Development Center (SBDC), housed and sponsored by Front Range Community College, is the SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award winner for a six-state region.
The award recognizes the center’s efforts to assist small-business owners and the center’s innovative approach to serving small manufacturers throughout Colorado.
Glenn Plagens
Glenn Plagens, who has been senior director of the North Metro Denver SBDC since 2011, has grown consulting over 500 percent. Last year, the center, which has satellite offices in Brighton, Broomfield, and Commerce City, provided over 2,600 hours of consulting for over 560 clients, $9.2 million of capital formation, 25 business starts, and 126 jobs created.
The center has over 30 consultants and trainers working with clients to provide the best possible experience.
In an effort to better serve the state’s small manufacturing clients, Plagens created a “Beta Manufacturing” program, working intensively with four small businesses over two and a half years, which led to the creation of 23 jobs, $5.2 million in capital formation, and $4 million increased sales.
The North Metro Denver SBDC is housed at FRCC’s Westminster Campus, 3645 W. 112th Ave. Contact the office at (303) 440-1032 or northmetro.sbdc@frontrange.edu.
Plagens has more than 25 years of experience as a small-business owner. In 2014, Plagens was the winner of the State Star Award from America’s Small Business Development Center organization. He is certified in Economic Gardening, which is a “grow from within” strategy targeting existing growth companies and offering them critical strategic information customized to their needs. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a marketing major from Eastern Michigan University.
An SBDC helps existing and new businesses grow and prosper by providing free and confidential consulting and no-cost or low-cost training programs. The SBDC combines information and resources from federal, state and local governments with those of the education system and private sector to meet the specialized and complex needs of the small business community. Consulting experts work in partnership to provide entrepreneurs with crucial information that can mean the difference between success and failure.
An SBDC is funded in part by Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Region 8 of the SBA encompasses Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah.
About Front Range Community College
FRCC offers nearly 100 degree and certificate programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County, Westminster, and Brighton, and online. FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, serving more than 144,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 39 locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities. CCCS students save time and money with affordable tuition and fees, concurrent enrollment, and guaranteed transfer to any public university in Colorado. Online courses are available via Colorado Community Colleges Online. CCCS also oversees career and technical programs in our 13 colleges, more than 160 school districts, and six other post-secondary institutions. By partnering with business and industry, CCCS helps employers meet workforce needs and prepares students for direct entry to their chosen career pathway. The vast majority of our students are Colorado residents and, after graduation, 97 percent of our students stay in state, becoming the workforce that powers the Colorado economy and the heart of our neighborhoods, businesses, and communities.
