In order to foster small business success, the U.S. Small Business Administration and over 500 business schools from leading colleges and universities formed the Small Business Institute^®. (SBI) Program in 1972. Although the Small Business Administration no longer co-sponsors the SBI program, the program continues as the premier field case study program in the United States.

Since 1982, under the direction of Dr. Charles H. Matthews, the SBI Program at the University of Cincinnati has garnered local, regional, and national recognition as one of the best in the country.

Highlights

• 1972: UC becomes a charter member of the Small Business Institute^® under the leadership of John Goering.
• 1982: Dr. Charles Matthews becomes Director of the SBI Program. He revitalizes the program from four cases per year to over 30 per year over the next decade.
• 1995: Over the past decade, the SBI Program has generated over $140,000 in grants from the U.S. SBA to further small, entrepreneurial and family business education.
• 2000: UC SBI team is recognized for its work with Fascinating, Inc. The team receives First Place at the SBI Case of the Year Competition.
• 2003: UC SBI team is recognized for its work with Tri-State Plastics, Inc. The team receives First Place at the SBI Case of the Year Competition.
• 2004: UC SBI team is recognized for its work with Genomatix USA. The team receives First Place at the SBI Case of the Year Competition.
• 2005: UC SBI team is recognized for its work with HyTek Coatings, Inc. The team receives Third Place at the SBI Case of the Year Competition.
• 2006: UC SBI team is recognized for its work with Brownstone Gallery. The team receives Honorable Mention at the SBI Case of the Year Competition.
• 2007: UC SBI team is recognized for its work with Winton Place Community Council. The team receives Third Place at the SBI Case of the Year Competition.
• 2008: UC SBI team is recognized for its work with CET Connect. The team receives First Place at the SBI Case of the Year Competition.
• 2009: UC SBI teams take first place specialized undergraduate and second place specialized graduate in the nation.  The undergraduate and graduate teams were honored at the National Small Business Institute® Case of the Year Competition in Albuquerque, NM. The undergraduate field case project was with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Tom Dalziel; and the graduate field case project with Reality Plus Clothing, was under the direction of Dr. Charles H. Matthews.
• 2010: UC SBI team was recognized for their work with Midwest Fasteners.  The team received First Place Specialized Undergraduate at the SBI Case of the Year Competition, under the direction of Dr. Tom Dalziel.