The SBDC Program is designed to deliver up-to-date counseling, training and technical assistance in all aspects of small business management. SBDC services include, but are not limited to, assisting small businesses with financial, marketing, production, organization, engineering and technical problems and feasibility studies. Special SBDC programs and economic development activities include international trade assistance, technical assistance, procurement assistance, venture capital formation and rural development. The SBDCs also make special efforts to reach minority members of socially and economically disadvantaged groups, veterans, women and the disabled. Assistance is provided to both current or potential small business owners. We also provide assistance to small businesses applying for Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) grants from federal agencies.

Core Services: Counseling and Training
Office Sites: 5
Employees: Full-Time 15, Part-time 5
Certification: ISO 9001-2000
Service Areas: Palm Beach, Broward and Treasure Coast Counties

Our Mission
To impact the small business community with world-class quality services that make a measurable contribution to regional economic growth and prosperity.
The SBDC Program
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is part of a national network that has more than 1,100 business development centers nationwide and is a member of the Florida SBDC Network and ASBDC. SBDCs represent the largest service delivery network of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) administers the Small Business Development Center Program to provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. SBDCs offer one-stop assistance to individuals and small businesses by providing a wide variety of information and guidance in central and easily accessible branch locations.
The program is a cooperative effort of the private sector, the educational community and federal, state and local governments. It enhances economic development by providing small businesses with management and technical assistance.
SBDC assistance is tailored to the local community and the needs of individual clients. Each center develops services in cooperation with local SBA district offices to ensure statewide coordination with other available resources.
Each center has a director, staff members, volunteers and part-time personnel. Qualified individuals recruited from professional and trade associations, the legal and banking community, academia, chambers of commerce and SCORE (the Service Corps of Retired Executives) are among those who donate their services. SBDCs also use paid consultants, consulting engineers and testing laboratories from the private sector to help clients who need specialized expertise.
Funding
The SBA provides 50 percent or less of the operating funds for each state SBDC; one or more sponsors provide the rest. These matching fund contributions are provided by state legislatures, private sector foundations and grants, state and local chambers of commerce, state- chartered economic development corporations, public and private universities, vocational and technical schools, community colleges, etc. Increasingly, sponsors contributions exceed the minimum 50 percent matching share.
Eligibility
Assistance from an SBDC is available to anyone interested in beginning a small business for the first time or improving or expanding an existing small business, who cannot afford the services of a private consultant.
Core Services - Counseling and Training
Counseling Services:
SBDC offers free one-on-one confidential business consulting by trained staff professionals and volunteer business analysts with experience as business owners or executives.
Training Services:
SBDC offers training events by trained staff professionals and volunteer speakers with experience as business owners or executives.

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For more Information, please contact:

Jerry Cartwright

Florida SBDC Network State Director

Email: jerry.cartwright@floridasbdc.org

Phone: (850) 473-7801