BOULDER - Some 61 new companies were started locally in the past year, and 574 jobs were either created or retained with help from Boulder-area Small Business Development Centers.

In addition, $8.3 million in capital that was related to local SBDC offices came into the local small-business community in the 2012 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, according to state small-business statistics. Another $560,500 in government and private-sector contracts also were made in the local small-business community, according to statistics.

Local SBDC offices are at the Boulder Chamber, 2440 Pearl St. in Boulder, and a satellite office at the Longmont Area Chamber Center, 528 Main St. in Longmont. Workers at the offices offer training to small-business owners, counseling and access to a variety of business resources.

"Each of the subcenters do an excellent job in delivering local counseling services and training that small businesses need to help them become successful," said Greg Lopez, Colorado district director of the federal Small Business Administration, in a press statement.

In all, 14 SBDC centers across the state helped create 1,814 jobs and retain 2,711 jobs in fiscal 2012. Workers at the centers helped companies get $105 million in capital and $103 million in government and private-sector contracts.

Support for the local SBDC program comes from the federal SBA, the Colorado Governor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Boulder Chamber and the Longmont Area Chamber Center.