EPCC’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Contract Opportunities Center (COC). Both programs serve the community by promoting economic growth and development. The SBDC offers business advising, training, and referral networks to new and existing entrepreneurs which fosters small business success in the community. In FY2024-2025 the SBDC served 499 entrepreneurs and held 150 training events for more than 2,385 participants. This had a significant impact on economic development in the community including 49 new business starts; 58 business expansions; 185 new jobs created; 162 jobs retained; more than $7.7 million in Total Capital Infusion; and Sales Increases of more than $15.5 million.
The COC is one of 96 APEX Accelerators nationwide that assists businesses and individuals who want to do business with federal, state and local governments. In 2024-25, 360 clients were served with more than 1,880 counseling hours with $467,413,155 total value of awards. This resulted in more than 9,348 jobs in our community being created or retained.
EPCC is deeply connected with the community and regularly communicates with business and industry partners to align academic programs with workforce needs. EPCC Program Advisory Committees meet at least annually with faculty, disciplines and academic programs. These Committees review curriculum, program outcomes and industry needs to propose new programs or to modify existing programs, especially in career and technical education areas, to provide the strongest possible preparation for our students to allow them to successfully enter the workforce. Other workforce and business/industry partnerships are also key to ensuring EPCC is fostering and maintaining its community connection. EPCC advances worker qualifications through training, re-skilling, and up-skilling to our regional workforce. By training a skilled workforce, EPCC contributes to our region’s ability to attract employers offering high-wage jobs in high-demand fields, thus strengthening the regional economy. One example of how EPCC achieves this is through the Texas Workforce Commission’s Skills Development Fund, through which the college has received millions of dollars in funding to provide customized training for multiple businesses, leading to their employees obtaining additional skills and earning higher wages. Collectively, the college’s industry partnerships transform the local workforce and improve the region’s capacity to meet regional training needs.