Pensacola, FL: As the seas off the African Coast continue to churn up weather system after weather system, storm after storm, two of Florida’s statewide service groups have entered into a formal agreement to maximize their ability to meet client needs in the event of any devastation in Florida. When groups band together that seem to have little in common and come from starkly different places, but still share a common thread, there is always the possibility of a synergistic effect. When synergism is present you are assured that the output of each, or their ability to do more with less, is due to each organization and the agreement that binds them.
In this, the 30th anniversary of the Florida Small Business Development Center Network (FSBDCN), the organization’s professionals continue to serve the needs of entrepreneurs and small business clients throughout the state. In good weather and bad, the one-on-one professional consultations are at no cost to the client; training that covers all aspects of management and doing business is abundant; and information resources for better decision making are at the SBDCs. Located statewide, the Network has eight regions that sponsor 32 offices and approximately 150 professional personnel.
The Disaster Contractors Network is a virtual organization of construction-related associations, state and federal emergency management organizations and regulatory agencies whose purpose is to facilitate information sharing and resource matching along the great Gulf Coast. It was designed to help home and small business owners rebuild following the devastation. They assist the owner with finding a suitable contractor, materials and labor; with ensuring that proper permitting and licensing of both in-state and out-of-state contractors is in place; by verifying the appropriate license for Florida and their county; by furnishing information needed to help the owner be disaster ready; and with documents and links to many other websites that hold useful information for disaster victims and contractors. They are also set up to assist contractors in need of materials, subcontractors and labor. Their scope encompasses Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
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A new initiative of the FSBDCN is its Mobile Business Assistance Center Program. Consisting of two 38’ RVs outfitted as mobile SBDC offices, along with a cadre of fifteen FEMA-trained business analysts ready to assist any disaster victim, the program stands ready to deploy anywhere in Florida or across the Gulf Coast. The client will be able to have their application or other forms online quickly and be in the system early. Even if the area has no power, the MACs have generators and satellite wireless technology. Following a lesson learned in Louisiana and Mississippi when our analysts were loaned to work with the Katrina victims, the business analysts will be able to work, eat and sleep in a nice (and known) location. |
The common thread shared by both organizations is their resource base and ability to help the client no matter the need or location on the Gulf Coast. The Disaster Contractors Network can be reached at http://fl.dcnonline.org; the Florida SBDC Network can be reached at www.FloridaSBDC.com and/or 850-473-7800 at the State Director’s Office in Pensacola.
The Florida Small Business Development Center Network is a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development organizations dedicated to providing emerging and established business owners with assistance enabling overall growth and increased profitability that contributes to the economic prosperity of the state. For more information about the FSBDCN, visit our website at www.FloridaSBDC.com.
Florida SBDC Network
State Director's Office
University of West Florida
401 E Chase St, Ste 100
Pensacola, FL 32502
850.473.7800 / f 850.473.7813
fsbdc@uwf.edu / www.FloridaSBDC.com
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