After counseling more than 165 businesses in the past year and helping them generate roughly $13 million in capital infusion, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Auburn University was recognized by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce for “Broad Contributions to the Auburn Community.” The SBDC earned one of five Eagle Awards presented at the chamber’s annual banquet in February. Located at the Auburn Research Park, the SBDC is an affiliate center within the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business and offers personal consultation for new businesses and small businesses yearning for continued growth. “We work with clients in all areas -- whether it’s a concept that’s drawn on a napkin for a new prototype and then it turns into something really big, or a new retail business,” said Lindsay Bridges, Auburn SBDC Regional Manager. “We help with all phases from start to finish. “What we typically do when somebody calls on us is we try to fit them with the best counselor to meet their needs. We’ll work with companies over a span of time. They don’t ever really leave us as a client. They may call us back three or five years later and have another question, or there’s some that we work with on a monthly basis and constantly have questions or need help.” Joe Hanna (pictured with Bridges), Associate Dean for Research and Outreach at Harbert College lauded Bridges’ work. “Lindsay spends numerous hours with business clients helping them develop business plans, market their ideas and attract much needed capital to their businesses,” he said. “Lindsay's contributions to the area through the SBDC is invaluable to the many business clients she serves.  Over the last couple of years, her SBDC work has helped to launch several successful businesses, bringing new employment opportunities and investment to the area.” Bridges, who worked in the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa SBDC regional offices before coming to Auburn in 2013, was named Alabama State Star for the Alabama SBDC Network in 2014 when she counseled 203 small businesses in Auburn’s eight-county territory, assisting those clients to obtain $5.9 million in capital and helped facilitate the creation of 25 new businesses. “I enjoy coming to work every day because you get to help people meet their dreams daily,” Bridges said. For more about the Small Business Development Center at Auburn, call (334) 844-4220, or email sbdc@auburn.edu