The article analyzes the early economic
impact results of the Arica Small Business Development
Center, a program funded by the Technical Cooperation
Service. The program led by SERCOTEC has a network
of 51 Business Development Centers with national
deployment, whose purpose is that "entrepreneurs,
micro and small companies improve their management
capabilities and business performance." Considering
that the operation of the program is carried out through
external operators, it is appropriate to systematically
evaluate and measure the results of each operator's
interventions. In this context, the case study analyzes the
main economic impact results of a sample of 833
companies and new ventures that received technical
advice at the Arica Business Development Center,
between the years 2015-2019. Statistical evidence
suggests that assisted clients increase their sales and
improve their business performance, generating positive
tax returns that favor the program's cost-benefit ratio.
Keywords : Business Development Centers, Economic Growth, Regional Development, SBDC, SERCOTEC, Small Businesses.