Michelle Spriggs has been named the center director of the Kentucky Small Business Development Center in Eastern Kentucky. The center will serve the Eastern and Southeastern parts of Kentucky covering Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Floyd, Greenup, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin, Lawrence and Pike counties.

As a veteran in the economic and small business development fields, Spriggs brings over 12 years of experience to her new role. In addition to her business and economic development experience, Spriggs has industry experience in export and trade, specialized foodservice, retail, healthcare and tourism. Her expertise includes financial analysis, strategic and business planning, market research and industry analysis. Spriggs also has chaired the committee and overseen the Big Sandy Women’s Business Symposium for the past 12 years – an event that celebrates the successes of women in the business world and the challenges they face.

“The entrepreneurial spirit is rooted deep in Eastern Kentucky. Our region is so vibrant, and our business community is robust. I look forward to supporting the growth and development of established and startup businesses in my new role,” Spriggs said. “I look forward to expanding our presence in the region with a client-focused approach.”

“The Kentucky SBDC is thrilled to keep Michelle Spriggs in our network and watch her thrive in her new role as director of our Eastern Kentucky Center. Michelle’s experience and expertise as a business coach cannot be overstated and we look forward to seeing her assist the entrepreneurs and small businesses in the area,” said Kristina Joyce, Kentucky SBDC state director.

The Kentucky Small Business Development Center has been assisting the commonwealth’s small-business community since 1981. Through its statewide growing network of centers and an experienced and knowledgeable staff, the Kentucky SBDC provides unparalleled business coaching and training services that help existing business owners and potential entrepreneurs succeed. Their services include one-on-one business coaching, training workshops, market research, loan packaging help, assistance with financial projections and information needed to make informed business decisions. Kentucky SBDC is co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is administered by the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment in partnership with regional academic institutions, economic development organizations, the private sector and the commonwealth of Kentucky.