Hello principe1-ga,
I’m sympathetic to your frustration about not finding the right
resources for Federal or private grants to help grow your
well-established business. To help you locate the financing you need,
I’ve collected a range of resources. I believe that the private
organizations and public agencies I’ve listed will help you in finding
what you need.
The main resources that are of interest are the Small Business
Administration and the Minority Business Enterprise Program. Both of
these US government agencies have State and local offices. These local
offices will be familiar with your local business market and lending
institutions. I suggest that you explore the agencies I’ve identified
and choose the ones that most clearly meet your needs. I suggest that
you contact them and attend their meetings and make appointments for
private consulting sessions on what they have to offer. In addition,
these organizations and their members should be able to share with you
strategies for moving forward with growing your business.
For each of the resources I’ve listed, I include a description to give
you a quick idea of what the site offers. If the explanation is not
self-explanatory I’ve made suggestions on how to use the particular
resource. I believe that you will be able to find connections here
that will help you get the business assistance you need. If any of
this needs further explanation, please be sure to ask for
clarification.
Wishing you success with growing your business.
czh
http://www.blackfloridian.com/articles/0101-bb-0101-a.htm
Government Contracting – Getting a Piece of Public Spending
What is the Minority Business Development Agency?
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is part of the U.S.
Department of Commerce. It was created specifically to foster the
creation, growth and expansion of minority owned business in America.
http://www.floridasmallbusiness.com/startup/02money.asp
The Money Maze
Growing businesses often can’t rely only on internal cash flow to fund
their expansion. They need capital. In addition to traditional bank or
SBA loans, a number of programs are designed to help small businesses
grow. Before checking out lending programs, consider the following
items: how much you need, what you need the money for and how long a
loan term you want.
****** Scroll down the page for list of links to local resources,
addresses, phone numbers
Grants
Despite the late night commercials touting free government money, it’s
hard to find any government entities handing out cash.
Neither the U.S. Small Business Administration nor most other federal
and state agencies offer grants or “free money” for starting or
developing a business. What grant money is available is primarily for
existing businesses to carry out certain specific tasks for government
programs.
****** See list of links for suggested sources of grants
http://www.sba.gov/fl/north/Finance.html
U.S. Small Business Administration
North Florida District Office (Includes Orange County)
***** This page on Financing is of special interest but be sure to
explore the rest of the site for the full range of SBA resources.
http://www.mbda.gov/templates/collection.php?collect_bucket=54&site_id=1
US Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency
http://www.mbda.gov/templates/inside.php?content_id=562&title=About%20MBDA&site_id=1
Atlanta Regional Office
Miami/Ft. Lauderdale MBDC
3050 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 201
Miami, FL 33137
Telephone: 786-316-0888
Fax: 786-316-0090
E-mail: abyer@mbdcsouthflorida.org
http://www.mbdcsouthflorida.org
http://www.keywestlawyers.com/business2.htm
Florida Small Business Start-Up Guide 2000 - 2001
**** See list of resources including:
Minority Business Enterprise Program
Florida's Minority Business Enterprise Program, operated by the
Minority Business Advocacy and Assistance Office, strives to increase
the participation of minority business enterprises in the economic
life of the state through involvement as vendors and contractors in
the state procurement system. It encourages the creation, development
and entry of new and diversified minority-owned business into the
mainstream marketplace. The MBAAO certifies minority businesses,
sponsors training workshops for agencies, holds regional workshops for
minority business enterprises, and approves state agencies' and
contractors utilization plans. For more information, contact:
Dept. of Labor and Employment Security, MBAAO
2102 Capital Circle SE
Hartman Bldg., Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2152
850. 487. 0915
http://mbaao.fdles.state.fl.us
http://mbaao.fdles.state.fl.us/
One Florida -- Office of Supplier Diversity
Florida Department Management Services
4050 Esplanade Way, Suite 360
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0950
Telephone: (850) 487-0915
Fax: (850) 922-6852
***** Links to many resources that should be helpful for getting
additional business with the State of Florida.
***** Under Vital Communications Area click on Upcoming Events --
Updated
Upcoming Events!
***** See list of several events in the next two months.
http://www.nmsdcfl.com/
Florida Minority Supplier Development Council (FMSDC) is an affiliate
member of
NMSDC, Inc., a national organization with a membership of over 3,500
major corporations
and 15,000 certified MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) suppliers.
The purpose of the
FMSDC is to provide major corporations and government agencies with
easy access to
minority owned and operated businesses. The FMSDC provides MBE
certification,
networking, contract funding, trade fairs, web access to MBE and
corporate member
directories, buyer training, sales training and more.
http://www.nmsdcfl.com/Events/chapter.asp
FMSDC New Member Orientation Meeting
Every Tuesday 10:00 am-11:00 am By Appointment Only
Meet with the Executive Director Malik Ali
6880 Lake Ellenor Drive, Orlando, FL
Contact Debbie Armstrong for Appointment
(407) 245-6062
http://www.djj.state.fl.us/businessopps/
Business Opportunities - Vendor's Center
The links below give you easy access to a variety of sites which
facilitate doing business with the Department of Juvenile Justice.
http://www.dc.state.fl.us/oth/oneFlorida/plan.html
Florida Department of Corrections
Minority Business Enterprises Utilization Plan
Fiscal Year 2002/03
http://www.dc.state.fl.us/oth/oneFlorida/topten_vendors.html
TOP 10 CERTIFIED MBE VENDORS, January, 2003
http://www.trda.org/about/default.htm
The Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA),
established by the Florida Legislature in 1987, delivers the
successful and cost-effective transfer of cutting edge technologies to
schools and small businesses throughout the State of Florida.
http://www.trda.org/energy/default.htm
Current Opportunities
http://www.bsbac.org/small%20buisness%20links.htm
Small Business Links
***** This is a long list of links dedicated to Florida small business
development
http://www.oneflorida.org/myflorida/government/governorinitiatives/one_florida/articles/contracts.html
Minority business owners urged to use online bid access to get
contracts
November 1, 2002
Sun Sentinal
By: Marcia Heroux Pounds
Minority- and women-owned businesses are getting a bigger piece of the
pie, but for many that piece is not big enough.
"This is the best environment for minorities in Florida we've ever
had," said Windell Paige, director of Florida's Office of Supplier
Diversity at the North Broward Hospital District's Minority/Women
Business Enterprise Expo on Thursday.
http://www.workforceflorida.com/wages/wfi/news/grants.html
Workforce Florida, Inc.
GRANTS, AWARDS, DONATION PROGRAMS UPDATES
Updated February 07, 2003
This is a lengthy list of open grants for projects that involve
workforce development.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12095.html
US Census Quick Facts
Orange County, Florida
SEARCH STRATEGY
minority business grants
Florida's Minority Business Enterprise Program |
