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March 10, 2021
Dear Friends,
The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is pleased to share this information about National Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Day on March 17, 2021. You are invited to learn more about SBDC Day and join the celebration at http://floridasbdc.org/national-sbdc-day. |
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Florida SBDC at FGCU to Celebrate
National SBDC Day March 17
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida Gulf Coast University will celebrate the fifth annual SBDC Day on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. You’re invited to join the celebration!
“The SBDC at FGCU is proud to serve Southwest Florida small businesses. Last year, our clients generated over $525.2M in sales which impacted 4,399 jobs,” states Lois Knox, Regional Director. “We celebrate your growth and success on SBDC Day!”
SBDC Day is a national movement to celebrate the success and impact of America’s SBDCs, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) largest business assistance program. With nearly 1,000 locations across the country, SBDCs are in every community providing local businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources needed to succeed. America’s SBDCs provide measurable economic results – in 2020 SBDCs helped generate; 91,767 jobs, $7 billion in sales growth; $6 billion in capital investments; and started 20,374 new businesses. |
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About Florida SBDC
Celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, the Florida SBDC Network is the state’s principal provider of small business assistance. What once began as one man at the University of West Florida overseeing two centers in Northwest Florida, has grown to a vibrant statewide partnership of more than 40 centers and over 250 employees providing tools, training, and expertise to thousands of Florida’s small businesses each year.
As part of its service offering, the Florida SBDC Network helps small businesses understand and apply for disaster assistance. Since March 2020, the network has helped small businesses secure more than $219 million in state and federal disaster loans, including the Paycheck Protection Program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, and the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan.
The network continues to work with small businesses to help them pivot and adjust business strategies to navigate the new normal.
“Florida’s 2.7 million small businesses are vital to our economy, yet they are facing unprecedented challenges due to the coronavirus,” said Dr. Cheryl Kirby, interim CEO of the Florida SBDC Network. “Now more than ever, small businesses need our help. This SBDC Day, we’re proud to celebrate the success and impact SBDCs have made in helping small businesses access the resources and expertise they need to survive the pandemic.”
About Florida SBDC at FGCU
The FSBDC at FGCU offers one-on-one, confidential, no-cost consulting and low-cost workshops for businesses throughout Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties. The state designates the Florida SBDC Network as Florida’s principal provider of business assistance. The FSBDC at FGCU is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide service funded in part through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida, and other private and public partners, and is hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University and nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs. For more information, please visit www.fsbdcswfl.org.
View our 2020 Prosperity Report. |
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