‘Behind every small business is an entrepreneur who had the courage to take a risk.’
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More rural businesses are getting commercial development help than ever before as FloridaCommerce touts the first year of the Florida Rural Business Resource Tour.
FloridaCommerce, the state’s business development bureau, launched the campaign to reach out to the least populous areas of Florida in 27 counties. The agency joined forces with the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network and other leaders to connect rural business owners with multiple state-level services to help strengthen economies in rural areas.
“It is in partnership with state and local economic development stakeholders, Florida’s Rural Areas of Opportunity and many legislators that we have seen such success in the first year of Florida’s Rural Business Resource Tour,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly.
“In establishing this outreach as a new best practice for serving our rural communities, we are meeting directly with business owners, entrepreneurs and community leaders right where they are — hearing about the challenges they face, their opportunities for growth and connecting them with resources that can help them succeed.”
The Rural Business Resource Tour’s delegates stopped at 40 rural companies across the state. Those businesses included agriculture technology, aquaculture, manufacturing, shipping and logistics, shipbuilding, defense and maritime industries. Those stops helped connect the owners of those businesses with state resources to help bolster the companies.
A resource fair in Hardee County established a roundtable discussion with Florida leaders and business heads in that county who received insights into economic development resources from the state, a FloridaCommerce news release said.
The SBDC is a network of more than 40 offices across the state. Greg Britton, Director of the SBDC network, said the campaign in the past year of outreach to rural companies hit the mark.
“Behind every small business is an entrepreneur who had the courage to take a risk, pursue a dream and invest in their community. We know the demands of running a business can leave little time to seek out additional support, and it can be isolating carrying that responsibility,” Britton said.
“Through this tour, FloridaCommerce, state agencies, Florida’s Rural Areas of Opportunity and local partners came together to bring resources directly to rural communities and connect businesses with the tools and expertise they need to grow. Florida’s rural businesses are creating jobs, strengthening communities and building a brighter future for our state, and we’re committed to helping them succeed.”
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