What began as a modest $200,000 Economic Development Administration grant 45 years ago has blossomed into one of San Antonio’s most impactful, yet understated, economic engines. On Friday evening, the UTSA community gathered at its Southwest Campus to celebrate this legacy and bid farewell to one of its key architects, Al Salgado, Executive Director of the South-West Texas Border Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network.
The story of UTSA’s economic development prowess began in 1979 when Gene Rodriguez, then Associate Director of the UTSA Business School Research Center, authored a winning proposal that would change the region’s economic landscape forever. By securing endorsements from all South Texas Councils of Governments, Rodriguez’s strategic proposal outmaneuvered UT Austin for the initial Economic Development Center grant that would establish the foundation of today’s institute.
Rodriguez’s vision extended beyond securing funding. He strategically recruited Jude Valdez from UT Austin, where Valdez served as Assistant Dean of Liberal Arts and the highest-ranking Latino administrator, to become the Institute’s first director. Rodriguez then recruited Bob McKinley to pioneer the Control Data Business Technology Center, San Antonio’s first tech business incubator. Years later, when Valdez became VP for Community Engagement, he brought McKinley on board to lead what would become the UTSA Institute, now named the Valdez Institute. The leadership trinity was completed when McKinley recruited Al Salgado to lead the regional SBDC.
Under Salgado’s stewardship over the past three decades, the SBDC Network has become a powerhouse of economic development, expanding to 12 service centers with 120 professionals serving 79 border counties. The network’s impact has been profound: over 6,108 jobs created, 625 new businesses launched, and $314 million in capital accessed by entrepreneurs. Their efforts have generated nearly $1 billion in sales and exports, consistently ranking the network among the nation’s top five performers.
The celebration drew San Antonio’s civic leadership, including former Mayor and HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros and his wife Mary Alice Cisneros. Gene Rodriguez and Bob McKinley, whose early vision and leadership laid the groundwork for the Institute’s success, joined LiftFund founder Janie Barrera and others in honoring Salgado’s contributions. Their presence underscored the Institute’s vital role in the region’s economic fabric.
Perhaps the Institute’s most remarkable achievement has been its international reach. Through USAID contracts secured by the leadership team, the SBDC model has been replicated across Latin America, with 120 centers in Mexico, 40 in Central America, and numerous others in Colombia, Argentina, and Chile. The initiative has even reached parts of Africa, creating a network that helps stem migration by fostering local economic opportunities while stimulating international trade for San Antonio’s small businesses.
The Institute, now named the Valdez Institute for Economic Development, stands as a testament to the power of visionary leadership and strategic partnership. Its economic impact rivals that of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, though it operates with less public recognition.
As Salgado retires after 32 years with SBDC and 20 years at UTSA, his legacy is reflected in the SBDCGLOBAL.COM platform he established, which continues to facilitate international trade and economic cooperation throughout the Americas. His tenure as Chairman of America’s SBDC Network Board of Directors and role as a Malcolm Baldrige examiner further cement his influence on national economic development policy.
The evening wasn’t just a celebration of Salgado’s distinguished career, but a reminder of San Antonio’s hidden economic development giant – an institution that began with a modest grant and grew into an international force for entrepreneurial development and cross-border commerce, thanks to the dedication of leaders like Rodriguez, Valdez, McKinley, and Salgado.
The challenge now passes to the next generation of leaders at the Valdez Institute, who inherit a legacy of innovation, impact, and international cooperation in economic development—a legacy built on the foundation of Rodriguez’s initial vision, strengthened through Valdez’s leadership, advanced by McKinley’s expertise, and globally expanded through Salgado’s dedication.
