New Jersey Entrepreneur

Lorraine Allen, regional director of the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at The College of New Jersey was awarded SBA’s 2009 Small Business Development Center Service Excellence and Innovation Center Award.

In making the announcement, SBA’s New Jersey District Director James A. Kocsi said that Allen was selected for the award based on her Small Business Development Center’s efforts to provide area small business owners with quality business counseling, innovative educational programs, and solutions to the everyday challenges that her clients face.

According to Kocsi, Mira Kostak, regional director of the Kean University Small Business Development Center nominated Allen for her award.

“The SBA has a longstanding partnership with the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers to provide entrepreneurs and existing small business owners with the tools to succeed.” said Kocsi.  “Lorraine Allen has certainly created a perfect environment at The College of New Jersey where small business owners in the Mercer/Middlesex County area can thrive and achieve success.”

Kocsi also noted Allen’s alliances with groups like the Metropolitan Trenton African-American Chamber of Commerce, Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners have allowed her to expand outreach and access to the programs and services offered by the Small Business Development Center.

“The Small Business Development Center at the College of New Jersey consistently delivers quality counseling and programs to its clients,” said Kocsi. “Due to Lorraine’s efforts and drive, her center is the fabric of the community she serves and it has allowed her to take the Small Business Development Center at The College of New Jersey to new and greater heights.”

Allen was honored with six other New Jerseyans on Friday, May 8, 2009 at SBA’s Annual Small Business Week Awards Luncheon.  The luncheon was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Monroe and was part of National Small Week (May 17th – May 23rd) activities held in New Jersey.