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AMERICA’S SBDC RELEASES ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTING ROBUST GROWTH AND SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT

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National Network Highlights Success Stories, Economic Contributions, and Future Expansion

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — America’s SBDC announced the release of its annual report, revealing the organization’s continued success in driving economic growth, job creation, and entrepreneurial innovation across the United States. The report underscores the reach and effectiveness of the nationwide SBDC network, which supports thousands of existing businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs each year.

This year’s theme is Unleashing National Impact, Igniting Local Transformation. The focus is how America’s SBDCs empower small businesses nationwide while making profound differences in local communities.

Key Highlights from the Annual Report
(according to the most recent Chrisman Survey, which collected data from clients in 2002-2003)

Record-Breaking Client Success: Assisted over 317,480 small businesses and entrepreneurs, creating 80,995 new jobs and 15,794 business starts.Impactful Access to Capital: Facilitated more than $6.6 Billion in capital/financing, helping owners secure loans, grants, and investor funding to launch and expand operations.Innovative Education & Training: Provided thousands of training workshops and webinars covering business planning, digital marketing, e-commerce, exporting, and financial management.Local and National Partnerships: Collaborated with federal agencies, state governments, local chambers of commerce, and corporate partners to expand small business resources, promote entrepreneurship, and strengthen economically challenged communities.Adaptation and Resilience: Continued to evolve in the face of economic challenges, supply chain resilience strategies, and digital transformation for small businesses.Client Satisfaction: 90% of SBDC clients find SBDC services beneficial, 96% of established business clients would recommend SBDC services, and clients gave SBDC advisors 4.5/5 stars.

“America’s SBDC remains at the forefront of small business assistance and advocacy. We are immensely proud of our achievements this year. By combining expert guidance, proven tools, and a strong network of supportive partners, we continue to transform lives and communities.” said Charles “Tee” Rowe, President and CEO of America’s SDBC. “We look forward to building on this momentum by expanding our reach, embracing technology, and advocating for policies that empower small businesses.”

In addition to highlighting the year’s achievements, the Annual Report provides an in-depth look at new initiatives, including strategic partnerships with fintech organizations, increased outreach efforts in rural communities, and advanced online training platforms. Looking ahead, America’s SBDC aims to broaden its impact.

The 2023 Annual Report, which includes client success stories, resource guides, and updated program details, is now available for download on America’s SBDC website.

About America’s SBDC
America’s Small Business Development Center (America’s SBDC) is a nationwide network of nearly 1,000 local centers providing no-cost, confidential business counseling, training, and research services to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Funded in part through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and locally sponsored by educational institutions and state economic development agencies, America’s SBDC helps small business owners create jobs, access capital, and foster innovation in their communities.

For more information and to access the full Annual Report, please visit: www.americassbdc.org

Media Contact:
Melissa Strain
Director of Marketing, America’s SBDC
Phone: (703) 864-0844
Email: melissa@americassbdc.org

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SOURCE America’s SBDC

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XLCS Partners advises Concurrent Utility Services on sale to UniTek Global Services

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce that it served as exclusive M&A advisor to Concurrent Utility Services LLC on its acquisition by UniTek Global Services, Inc., a portfolio company of New Mountain Finance Corporation (Nasdaq: NMFC) and its affiliates, and BTG Pactual Strategic Capital.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Concurrent is a licensed general and electrical contractor providing infrastructure development and maintenance services to electric utilities, telecom providers, and land developers throughout the Southeast United States. The company’s capabilities span overhead and underground utility construction, professional telecom services, emergency service restoration, in-building networks, environmental services, and data center development. Backed by a safety-first culture and an experienced workforce, Concurrent has built a strong regional platform and a reputation for quality across the markets it serves.

UniTek is a leading digital infrastructure services provider supporting the expansion of fiber and data center connectivity across the U.S. and Canada. With over 600 employees and 60 locations, UniTek delivers a full suite of infrastructure services. The acquisition of Concurrent accelerates UniTek’s Power Services Division, which launched in July 2025 to broaden the company’s maintenance, repair, upgrade, and new infrastructure development services for the power sector. Concurrent’s established Southeast footprint and power capabilities directly complement UniTek’s existing broadband and data center infrastructure platform, positioning the combined company to capitalize on growing demand for resilient, modernized power infrastructure. Concurrent will continue to operate under its established brand, maintaining uninterrupted service for its customers.

“Selling Concurrent was one of the biggest decisions of my career, and Anthony, Jay, and the XLCS team guided us through every step with professionalism and genuine care for our people,” said Steve Sarno, CEO of Concurrent. “They stayed fully engaged throughout, gave us honest and thoughtful advice, kept our best interests front and center, and delivered an outcome that exceeded our expectations. I would recommend them without hesitation to any owner considering a transaction.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Concurrent, and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo, Partner, and Jay Cremer, Vice President. The transaction was completed on July 1, 2026.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.

XLCS Partners is a leading global investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services. Visit www.xlcspartners.com for more information.

Media Contact: 
Kendra Span 
kspan@xlcspartners.com
615-379-7783

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SOURCE XLCS Partners, Inc.

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XLCS Partners advises Concurrent Utility Services on sale to UniTek Global Services

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce that it served as exclusive M&A advisor to Concurrent Utility Services LLC on its acquisition by UniTek Global Services, Inc., a portfolio company of New Mountain Finance Corporation (Nasdaq: NMFC) and its affiliates, and BTG Pactual Strategic Capital.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Concurrent is a licensed general and electrical contractor providing infrastructure development and maintenance services to electric utilities, telecom providers, and land developers throughout the Southeast United States. The company’s capabilities span overhead and underground utility construction, professional telecom services, emergency service restoration, in-building networks, environmental services, and data center development. Backed by a safety-first culture and an experienced workforce, Concurrent has built a strong regional platform and a reputation for quality across the markets it serves.

UniTek is a leading digital infrastructure services provider supporting the expansion of fiber and data center connectivity across the U.S. and Canada. With over 600 employees and 60 locations, UniTek delivers a full suite of infrastructure services. The acquisition of Concurrent accelerates UniTek’s Power Services Division, which launched in July 2025 to broaden the company’s maintenance, repair, upgrade, and new infrastructure development services for the power sector. Concurrent’s established Southeast footprint and power capabilities directly complement UniTek’s existing broadband and data center infrastructure platform, positioning the combined company to capitalize on growing demand for resilient, modernized power infrastructure. Concurrent will continue to operate under its established brand, maintaining uninterrupted service for its customers.

“Selling Concurrent was one of the biggest decisions of my career, and Anthony, Jay, and the XLCS team guided us through every step with professionalism and genuine care for our people,” said Steve Sarno, CEO of Concurrent. “They stayed fully engaged throughout, gave us honest and thoughtful advice, kept our best interests front and center, and delivered an outcome that exceeded our expectations. I would recommend them without hesitation to any owner considering a transaction.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Concurrent, and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo, Partner, and Jay Cremer, Vice President. The transaction was completed on July 1, 2026.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.

XLCS Partners is a leading global investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services. Visit www.xlcspartners.com for more information.

Media Contact: 
Kendra Span 
kspan@xlcspartners.com
615-379-7783

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xlcs-partners-advises-concurrent-utility-services-on-sale-to-unitek-global-services-302833542.html

SOURCE XLCS Partners, Inc.

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Fathom Applauds Introduction of the FRONTIER Act, the First Federal Blueprint for Independent AI Verification

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Reps. Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) introduce a bill to build a competitive marketplace of independent verifiers for frontier AI models.

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fathom welcomes the introduction of the FRONTIER Act, the most complete federal framework yet for independent, third-party verification of frontier AI. The legislation is built to earn public trust as AI technology continues to accelerate. As frontier systems begin to take autonomous action in the world, the gap between what these models can do and our ability to keep them in check is widening. FRONTIER is the starting point to close that gap.

“AI governance keeps running into the same wall. The technology is hard to measure and it moves faster than any law can keep up with,” said Andrew Freedman, Co-Founder and CEO of Fathom. “Trying to write the perfect rules and freezing them in place won’t work. What will work is a competitive market of independent verifiers who are accountable for real-world outcomes and who the government can actually count on. The FRONTIER Act shows we can move fast and still get this right.”

The bill gets the fundamentals correct. It sets one public standard – the adequate mitigation of catastrophic risk – and holds both the AI companies and their independent verifiers accountable to it. FRONTIER does not freeze a single testing method into statute. Instead, it licenses competing verification organizations, allows them to sharpen their methods, and gives the government the power to revoke a license when a verifier’s work does not hold up in the field. That is how you build a system that keeps pace with the science instead of falling behind it.

Fathom thanks Reps. Trahan and Obernolte for their leadership, and for their courage in releasing a discussion draft, inviting scrutiny, and incorporating substantive improvements from across the field. One priority improvement as the bill advances: giving the government a fuller range of tools to act upstream – for pushing companies to close identified gaps in risk mitigation early, rather than only once a catastrophe is imminent. We are committed to working with these sponsors, committees of jurisdiction, and Congressional leadership to continue refining the bill in the weeks and months ahead.

About Fathom
Fathom is an independent nonprofit whose mission is to build a governance architecture that helps society navigate the transition to a world with AI by fostering trust, safety, and innovation. Fathom has developed and championed the independent verification model for AI and works with policymakers across the country to put it into practice. Learn more at http://fathom.org.

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SOURCE Fathom AI Inc.

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