New Partnership Will Advance Workforce Development and Experiential Learning.
The College is Only One of Two Private Institutions in NY to Host the SBDC.
St. Thomas Aquinas College proudly announces that it is now hosting the Lower Hudson Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC). This collaboration underscores the College’s ongoing commitment to community engagement, economic development, and lifelong learning.
The Lower Hudson Valley SBDC has established its new home on St. Thomas Aquinas College’s campus in Sparkill, NY, providing small businesses in Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam counties with convenient access to free and confidential 1-on-1 advisement, education, and research services. This move makes the College one of only two private higher education institutions in New York State to serve as an SBDC host site, joining a network traditionally hosted by CUNY and SUNY institutions.
“We are honored to partner with the SBDC and welcome them to our campus,” said College President Ken Daly. “This collaboration strengthens our mission of fostering workforce development and experiential learning while providing valuable opportunities for our students. Together, we will help empower local businesses, drive job creation, and make a positive impact on our region’s economy.”
The SBDC had approximately 570 active small business clients in the Lower Hudson Valley in 2024, offering tailored assistance to help entrepreneurs navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve success. This led to over $7.8 million in capital impact for these clients.Through this partnership, St. Thomas Aquinas College students will also benefit from experiential learning opportunities, including internships and cooperative education roles, as well as expanded access to entrepreneurial resources.
“This marks our first new center in New York State in over 15 years, and we’re excited to partner with the visionary leadership at St. Thomas Aquinas College,” said Sonya Smith, State Director of the New York SBDC. “Together, we aim to create a hub of expertise and education that will empower small businesses and drive economic growth across the Lower Hudson Valley.”
Louis Scamardella, Center Director of the Lower Hudson Valley SBDC, added: “This partnership with STAC is an opportunity for us to tap into the skills and creative talents of the STAC student body and faculty to deliver the highest quality advisement to the small business community in Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam counties.”
For over 40 years, the New York SBDC has empowered small businesses by providing expert guidance and resources. As the new host site, St. Thomas Aquinas College will amplify this mission while enhancing its brand awareness and promoting its diverse academic programs to the business community.
For more information about the SBDC, visit stac.edu/sbdc.
About St. Thomas Aquinas College
St. Thomas Aquinas College is an independent liberal arts college located on 76 acres in Rockland County, NY, providing education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College’s diverse student body of approximately 2,000 full and part-time students can choose from over 100 majors, minors, and specializations across four Schools: Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Education, and STEM. The College is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in the Top-Tier for Regional Universities, and by Colleges of Distinction in its New York edition for Business, Education, and Career Development. The College is also recognized as a Yellow Ribbon Program institution. St. Thomas Aquinas College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; its School of Education is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), and its School of Business is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). For more information, visit stac.edu.
About the New York Small Business Development Centers
The New York Small Business Development Centers (NYSBDC) are the most expansive small business network in New York State. The NYSBDC provides free and confidential 1-on-1 business advisement, training, and research to small business owners and entrepreneurs. It is a joint federal and state economic development organization, administered by the State University of New York (SUNY), that operates 20 regional small business centers in all of New York’s ten economic development regions. These centers, hosted at SUNY, CUNY, Pace University and St. Thomas Aquinas College link higher education to small businesses. Additionally, the SBDC has over 70 satellite locations with community partners like chambers of commerce, EDCs, IDAs, and incubators. Learn more at nysbdc.org