Fort Pierce Main Street Partnering for Better Business Program Expands Consulting and Training Services with Funding from Bank of America
Fort Pierce Main Street Partnering for Better Business Program Expands Consulting and Training Services with Funding from Bank of America
October 20, 2021 Suzanne Seldes
FORT PIERCE—The Florida Small Business Development Center (FSBDC) housed at Indian River State College (IRSC) was awarded a $30,000 grant from Bank of America to provide additional business consulting services to qualified emerging and growing businesses as part of the Fort Pierce Main Street Partnering for Better Business Program located in the Lincoln Park area. Companies that qualify for FSBDC services must have a goal for growth, employ five or more individuals, and have $50,000 to $10 million in sales. The funding is part of Bank of America’s $1.25 billion, five-year commitment to help advance racial equality and economic opportunity nationally.
"The SBDC at IRSC created the Fort Pierce Main Street Partnering for Better Business Program to enhance business and entrepreneurial skills, create jobs, and assist in the expansion and growth of our minority business community," shares IRSC FSBDC Director Tom Kindred. "With the generous support of Bank of America, we can supplement previous budget cuts to ensure consultants can fully deliver this program to minority business owners who continue to deal with a challenging marketplace."
Created to bring business training and support to small business operators, the Main Street Partnering for Better Business Program focuses on the Lincoln Park business district. The program includes five nights of business training and one-on-one business consulting. The Center will also conduct a detailed review of the business' digital media platform and strategy and then create an action plan to ensure that the business is visible on social media. To bring its consulting assistance directly to the Lincoln Park business district, the FSBDC has positioned Business Consultant Clifton Vaughn at the IRSC Blackburn Educational Building at 3002 Avenue D.
“For years, Bank of America has supported local organizations that are committed to fostering the economic growth of the community by offering valuable resources to help businesses and individuals achieve financial stability,” said Doug Sherman, president, Bank of America Treasure Coast. “Our support of this program to enhance the business and entrepreneurial skills of Lincoln Park residents helps bring meaningful job training and resources to a historically underserved community in Fort Pierce, which in turn contributes to a thriving community.”
For more information about the Fort Pierce Main Street Partnering for Better Business Program, contact the FSBDC at IRSC at 772-336-6285 or fsbdc@irsc.edu.
About the Florida SBDC Network:
For over forty 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 2019, Florida SBDCs provided 114,064 hours of professional business consulting to 12,535 client businesses, resulting in 37,966 jobs impacted; $4.4 billion in sales generated; $496.5 million in government contracts acquired; and $255.3 million in capital accessed; and 453 new businesses started. With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, 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.
