PORTLAND – Maine Small Business Development Centers will celebrate 25 years in existence with a gala luncheon May 20 at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport.

At the luncheon 25 Maine small businesses, the ‘SBDC 25,’ will receive recognition “as the kinds of small businesses that generate wealth one dollar at a time, create jobs one employee at a time, and who serve as models and mentors” for others, according to Diane Hahn, director of communications and training for Maine SBDC. Also being recognized will be the business counselors and staff of the Maine SBDC and many of the people and organizations who have helped the centers succeed.

Attending will be Gov. Angus King; Johnnie Albertson, U.S. Small Business Administration associate administrator for SBDC affairs; and Don Wilson, president of the Association of Small Business Development Centers, Washington, D.C.

“Last year, Maine SBDC worked with over 2,000 existing and prospective small-business owners to contribute to the improvement of the economic climate for the state of Maine,” said Maine SBDC State Director John Massaua. “With its focus on assisting in the creation, growth and maintenance of viable micro and small businesses and the jobs these businesses provide, Maine SBDC measures its own success in the 312 jobs it helped create or retain during 2001, as well as the nearly $10 million in capital formation it was able to assist small businesses in obtaining during that same year.”

Maine SBDCs provide comprehensive business management assistance, training and information services to Maine’s micro and small business community. For more information, visit the Maine SBDC Web site at: www.mainesbdc.org.