Florida SBDC at IRSC Remains a Resource for Small Business Support Amid COVID-19

May 28, 2020 Robert Lane

The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Indian River State College (IRSC) encourages consumers to support area small businesses, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. The SBDC recently participated in a social media campaign to inspire consumers to support businesses from the safety of their homes.

The Florida SBDC social media campaign consists of six-part video series launched by an announcement video on Sunday, May 24, followed with daily challenges throughout the week. Examples of the challenge include tagging small businesses on social media, purchasing gift cards, writing online reviews, and sending caring messages to small business owners. The videos can be accessed at www.floridasbdc.org/disaster/5-day-challenge and on the Florida SBDC at Indian River State College social media channel at @FloridaSBDCatIRSC.

Small businesses are critical to the economy—creating two-thirds of net new jobs and driving economic innovation and competitiveness. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy, small businesses comprise nearly half (44 percent) of economic activity. Yet, measures taken to slow the spread of the Coronavirus negatively impacted small businesses in Florida and across the country.

“The Florida SBDC at IRSC is a valuable business assistance program and the team of credentialed consultants is on the job and ready to assist small business in developing strategies to navigate the new normal,” said Tom Kindred, Regional Director, Florida SBDC at IRSC. “I would encourage every small business owner to set a date to meet with an SBDC consultant and use the program, its consultants and tools to prepare their business to re-engage in the marketplace.”

As part of its service offerings, Florida SBDC at Indian River State College professionally certified consultants and disaster specialists are available to provide confidential, no-cost consulting and direction to help affected businesses assess their options and receive assistance in preparing loan applications. Florida SBDC disaster specialists can also assist with other post-disaster challenges.

The Florida SBDC Network recently developed a guide and other resources to help small businesses understand available federal disaster loans and provide tips for impacted businesses. To access the guide, and for more information on resources available to small businesses impacted by COVID-19, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

The Florida SBDC at Indian River State College is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a public-private partnership that leverages the resources of higher education and economic development to serve the needs of aspiring and existing small businesses. The mission of the Florida SBDC Network and SBDCs nationally is to provide the resources and expertise for small businesses to grow and succeed.

For more information or to make an appointment with an Florida SBDC at IRSC consultant, please contact FSBDC@IRSC.edu or call Katie Muldoon at 772-336-6285.

About the Florida SBDC at Indian River State College:

For over 15 years, the Florida SBDC at IRSC, the state’s statutorily designated principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a regional partnership between higher education and economic development to provide small businesses the intellectual capital and business experience that enables overall business growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity. In 2019, Florida SBDC at IRSC provided over 4,200 hours of professional business consulting, resulting in $60 million in government contracts acquired; $2.3 million in capital accessed. With consultants serving all of the Treasure Coast, the Florida SBDC at IRSC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida and other private and public partners. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.