History & Mission

About

Mission

The Microbusiness Advancement Center (MAC) is a non-profit organization that helps individuals start, fund and grow their businesses by providing quality business education and access to capital. MAC drives the development of small businesses in Southern Arizona by providing clients with :

• Training Programs
• Resources
• Microloans

MAC serves all aspiring and existing business owners through its varied menu of classes and workshops. MAC receives partial funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the City of Tucson, United Way, foundations, corporate and individual donors.

History

Established in 1990, MAC educates, consults, and mentors owners of small businesses throughout southern Arizona.  MAC has accomplished in Tucson what few cities have done by creating a one stop shop for small business services, supported by the SBA.  Programs are available; in both English and Spanish and include the following:  Pima County Women’s Business Center designated in 2002 by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a Pima County Women’s Business Center providing training and technical assistance to disadvantaged entrepreneurs who are starting or expanding their business; SBA Small Business Development Center providing direct professional counseling service to businesses.  Our local SBDC is a part of a statewide network funded by the SBA to support local business development.  In 2004, with the help of the SBA Microloan Program, MAC began providing alternative funding capacity to new micro businesses that are unable to qualify for traditional business loans.  All of these programs have enabled MAC to successfully develop entrepreneurs and help fuel a thriving and varied small business community in Tucson.  Last year, our programs and technical assistance were responsible for placing over $9 Million in business loans in southern Arizona, created 511 new jobs, 137 new businesses, and assisted over 1200 entrepreneurs.