News
Small Business Development Center earns top SBA awards for supporting local businesses
May 8, 2026Tempe, Ariz. (May 8, 2026) – For the second consecutive year, the Arizona Western Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been named the SBA Arizona District Office’s Center of Excellence. Building on that recognition, the SBDC also earned the SBA’s Excellence and Innovation Award for the Pacific Region—which includes California, Arizona, Hawaii, and Nevada—highlighting its impact on entrepreneurs and small businesses across Yuma and La Paz counties.
“Our success is made possible by the strong support of our host institution, Arizona Western College, and the collaborative partnerships we’ve built with municipalities and economic development organizations across our region,” said SBDC Director Crystal Mendoza. “By working together, we expand our impact and better serve our communities—proving that through collaboration and strong relationships, we can accomplish far more than we ever could alone.”
Including the SBDC, four of the nine statewide awards went to Yuma-area recipients, highlighting the strength of the region’s small business community.
The local businesses recognized include:
- Small Business Person of the Year: Alma Ornelas, The Best Taquito LLC
- Woman Business of the Year: Dania Vizcarra and Patricia L. Lara, Tacos Marlyn LLC
- Veteran Small Business of the Year: Peter Romero, Camp Titan Fitness LLC
“I’m incredibly proud of our community and the dedicated entrepreneurs we’re honored to support,” Mendoza shared. “Celebrating their achievements alongside our center makes this recognition even more meaningful.”
During fiscal year 2025, the SBDC supported nearly 2,000 entrepreneurs, helped start 39 businesses, created 110 full-time jobs, and contributed to $6.6 million in sales growth. The SBDC team provides one-on-one counseling, training, and resource assistance to local businesses, working tirelessly in recent years to expand the services they offer and introduce innovative programs to help businesses thrive.
Awards were presented at the AZ Small Biz Con 2026 on May 4, 2026 in Tempe, Ariz.
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About the Arizona Western Small Business Development Center:
Arizona Western Entrepreneurial College’s Small Business Development Center serves small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Yuma and La Paz Counties by providing high-quality, high-impact one-on-one counseling, resource assistance, and training to preserve and create small business jobs and revenue, and to facilitate capital formation throughout Arizona.
About the U.S. Small Business Association:
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is a federal agency that supports entrepreneurs and small businesses through funding, counseling, and training programs. In partnership with resource organizations like Small Business Development Centers, the SBA helps strengthen local economies and expand opportunities for business growth nationwide.
Contact:
Crystal Mendoza
Director of the Small Business Development Center
Arizona Western Entrepreneurial College
crystal.mendoza@azwestern.edu
(928) 317-6151