Florida SBDC Network to Host Florida Small Business Day at the Capitol

Florida SBDC Network State Office (Pensacola, Fla.) – The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, the state’s principal provider of small business assistance, will host Florida Small Business Day at the Capitol this Wednesday, March 15th, at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. 

 

What: The purpose of the event is to highlight the critical role small businesses play in Florida’s economy and to provide an opportunity for small business owners and resource providers to share their insights and experiences while showcasing products and services. The network will provide tours of its mobile assistance center, which was recently deployed following Hurricane Ian. There will also be press availability where agency representatives will speak about the importance of small businesses to our state. 

 

Florida Small Business Day at the Capitol will be celebrated in conjunction with National SBDC Day, a celebration of the success and impact of SBDCs nationally. On SBDC Day, the Florida SBDC Network, alongside SBDCs nationally, will celebrate the success stories and notable impacts SBDCs collectively have on the small business community. 

 

 

 

When: The event will take place this Wednesday, March 15 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. A press opportunity will take place from 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 

 

Where: The client showcase, press event, and mobile assistance tours will take place on the Capitol Courtyard. The network will also have representation and podcast availability on Third Floor Rotunda.

 

This event is open to the public and media are invited to attend the press briefing. Media are asked to RSVP to Dianne Fazio at dfazio@uwf.edu or 850-898-3486. 

 

For more information about the event, please contact Beverly Byerts at bbyerts@uwf.edu.

For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy. In 2021, the Florida SBDC Network delivered more than 157,000 hours of consulting to more than 18,000 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing over half a billion in capital, securing more than $380 million in government contracts, impacting 28,930 jobs, increasing sales by over $4 billion, and creating 778 new businesses.

 

With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

 

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