Niagara SBDC Agriculture Specialist Bree Bacon Named New York’s 2026 America’s SBDC State Star

Certified Business Advisor recognized for her leadership, statewide impact, and commitment to New York’s small business and agricultural communities

Albany, NY – The New York Small Business Development Centers (NYSBDC) has named Bree Bacon, Agriculture Specialist and Certified Business Advisor with the Niagara SBDC hosted by SUNY Niagara, as New York’s 2026 America’s SBDC State Star.

The State Star Award recognizes an individual whose leadership and impact reflect the values and mission of the SBDC network. National criteria include consistently exceeding goals and expectations, demonstrating measurable impact on an SBDC program, and showing a proven track record of advocacy and dedication to the success of entrepreneurs.

Bacon will be recognized alongside State Stars from SBDC networks across the country ahead of the America’s SBDC 2026 Annual Training Event, held September 29 through October 1 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Since joining the Niagara SBDC in 2015, Bacon has focused on assisting rural, agricultural, land-based, and specialty food businesses across New York State. She helps business owners navigate business planning, market research, access to funding, regulations, and other decisions involved in starting and growing a business.

Over the course of her SBDC career, Bacon has advised more than 6,000 clients, helped them access more than $7.1 million in capital, and spent more than 4,800 hours advising clients and preparing individualized support for their businesses.

Her impact extends beyond the businesses she advises directly. As Chair of the NYSBDC Agriculture Committee, Bacon has become a go-to resource for advisors across the statewide network working with agricultural and rural businesses. She regularly shares her knowledge with colleagues throughout the NYSBDC network and through presentations and trainings for small business owners, agricultural organizations and partners in Niagara County and across New York State. She also participates in the America’s SBDC Rural Working Group and co-organizes the annual Niagara County Agribusiness Forum in partnership with local organizations.

“Bree combines deep expertise with a genuine willingness to share what she knows, whether she is working directly with a business owner, helping another advisor navigate an agricultural issue, or sharing her knowledge with entrepreneurs and partners across the state,” said Sonya Smith, NYSBDC State Director. “She works incredibly hard, brings such a positive presence to the people around her, and understands firsthand what it takes to run a small business. Her leadership has strengthened not only the Niagara SBDC, but our ability to serve rural and agricultural businesses across New York State. She is an exceptional representative of what the State Star recognition is all about.”

Bacon’s connection to agriculture is also personal. In 2012, she and her husband moved to Lockport to help revive his family’s sixth-generation farm, which they have developed into an organic vegetable, flower and fruit farm. As a small business owner herself, Bacon brings firsthand understanding of the day-to-day decisions and challenges faced by many of the entrepreneurs she advises.

“I am very honored to have been selected as the NYSBDC State Star this year from among such a strong group of colleagues,” Bacon said. “For the past 10 years, it has been my passion to help small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, farms and rural businesses succeed in a fast-changing environment. I am continually inspired by the hard work and creativity of SBDC clients, and by the real, meaningful impact and opportunities they create. Small businesses really do make our communities possible.”

Before joining the SBDC, Bacon built a career spanning international economic development, entrepreneurship training, research and nonprofit work. Her experience included coordinating international professional exchanges, developing business training for thousands of entrepreneurs, supporting sustainable-business initiatives and conducting economic development research. She brings that broad experience in entrepreneurship and economic development to her work with businesses today.

Bacon holds a Master of Public Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a bachelor’s degree in Russian and Anthropology from Emory University.