The Southeast Center and Cooper were recognized by Business Development Program Leader Steve Wyatt and Ron Turner, University of Missouri executive vice president for outreach, at a luncheon held during the Business Development Program's annual professional development conference on Feb. 11.

Cooper was honored for having outstanding client customer satisfaction results from an annual survey of clients conducted by the SBDC State Office at the University of Missouri. Cooper received extremely positive evaluation from his clients, averaging more than 6.0 on a 7.0 scale.

The Southeast SBDC worked through the Donald L. Harrison College of Business in the preparation of two grant proposals. As a result, the Center will receive, over the next two years, nearly $386,000 from a U. S. Department of Labor grant and a Delta Regional Authority grant. Both awards are to provide entrepreneurial training and individualized counseling to businesses in Southeast's region.

The U. S. Small Business Administration and University of Missouri Outreach and Extension are partners with Southeast Missouri State University in sponsoring the SBDC in Cape Girardeau. The SBDC works with hundreds of small business owners and managers each year in addressing issues relating to business start-up, management, marketing, finance and technology.

For more information, contact Buz Sutherland, director of SBDC at Southeast Missouri State University, at (573) 986-6084.