ALBANY, N.Y. — The man who helped launch the New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC) in 1984 and served as its executive director for 33 years recently died at the age of 73. In its May 7 announcement, NYSBDC described James L. (Jim) King as a “widely respected leader whose vision, dedication, and decades […]
ALBANY, N.Y. — The man who helped launch the New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC) in 1984 and served as its executive director for 33 years recently died at the age of 73.
In its May 7 announcement, NYSBDC described James L. (Jim) King as a “widely respected leader whose vision, dedication, and decades of service helped build one of the most impactful small business support networks in the country.”
“Jim King was one of my first friends and mentors when I came on board at the association,” Tee Rowe, president and CEO of America’s SBDC, said. “His warm sense of humor, his ability to cut to the heart of the matter, and his willingness to help me learn and get my bearings at America’s SBDC were just the right touch. I think that sums up Jim’s legacy throughout his time with SBDCs — he had just the right touch. He knew what to say and what was most important to guide us, whether at the association or in the NYSBDC.”
King worked with SUNY and other statewide partners to launch the NYSBDC program in 1984 and served as its state director until retiring in 2017. Under his leadership, the network expanded into a statewide system of 24 regional centers and more than 70 outreach locations, providing one-on-one business advisement and support to tens of thousands of entrepreneurs each year, the NYSBDC said.
“He was a truly transformational leader who built one of the state’s most enduring and impactful economic development programs. We are committed to carrying his vision forward,” Sonya Smith, New York state director of the Small Business Development Center network, said in the announcement.
Throughout his career, King worked with legislators, economic-development agencies, higher-education leaders, and the U.S. Small Business Administration to secure long-term support for the program.
He guided the NYSBDC and New York’s small businesses through some of the most difficult moments in New York’s economic history, including the recovery efforts following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Great Recession of 2008, and Hurricane Sandy.
He understood that small businesses “were not just economic engines — they were people, families, and communities — and he ensured they received the support they needed to recover and thrive,” the NYSBDC said.
King grew up in the town of Salem, Ohio, according to his obituary on the website of Harris Funeral Home in Rochester. He attended Kalamazoo College in Michigan, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1973. King later earned an MBA from Bowling Green State University, before moving to Buffalo. He spent more than three decades living in the Albany area, when he led the NYSBDC. In retirement, he resided in the greater Rochester area. King passed away on April 13, per the obituary.
