STATE ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

Link to the SBSES Home Page

Delivery Person STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
Listed in Alphabetical Order

FLORIDA
The Abilities Fund
Centerville Office
410 N 18th St
Centerville, IA 52544-1823
Telephone: 641-856-2173
Toll Free: 888-222-8943
Fax: 641-856-3101

Iowa City Office
332 South Linn Street, Suite #17
Iowa City, IA 52240
Telephone: 319-338-2521
Toll Free: 866-720-3863
Fax: 319-338-2528
URL: http://www.abilitiesfund.org/

"This summer The Abilities Fund, together with a national lending partner, will launch a nationwide direct loan program for entrepreneurs with disabilities. In 45 states, loan guarantees will also be available to as a means to secure loans for entrepreneurs. Flexible terms and competitive interest rates for microloans ranging from $500 - $25,000 will be offered.

In support of new microlending services, The Abilities Fund will be expanding its online presence to include training and technical assistance. Soon, people with disabilities nationwide will have 24-hour access to features such as Feasibility First ©, business plan development, and financial planning for business startup -- all of which are resources designed to prepare entrepreneurs with disabilities for self-employment."

Complete Guide for Operating and Starting a Business in the State of Florida (Available for purchase)
URL: http://www.floridabusinessguide.com/

"Whether you're starting or operating a business in Florida, you will need to make sure all state and local business registration requirements have been met. This 75 page publication includes information for registering with the appropriate state regulatory authorities, contacting the Florida Department of Revenue to obtain the required tax information, and applying for occupational licenses. The Florida Business Guide, published by State of Florida.com, provides a more detailed list of Florida business requirements, along with step-by-step instructions for correctly registering your business."

Florida Small Business Development Center Network
State Director's Office
401 E. Chase St., Suite 100, Pensacola, FL 32502
Phone: (850) 473-7800
Fax: (850) 473-7813 FAX
URL: http://www.floridasbdc.com/

"The Florida Small Business Development Center Network serves as the statewide single point of contact for the advancement of an entrepreneurial environment; thus, creating a positive foundation for the development and growth of micro, small and medium enterprises in Florida. The Network's focus on the critical needs of businesses drives its direction and performance expectations. The Florida SBDC program is the most experienced economic development network serving Floridians statewide.

Florida Trend's Florida Small Business
URL: http://www.floridasmallbusiness.com/

Enterprise Florida
Microenterprise Organizations in Florida (PDF File)
URL: http://www.eflorida.com/uploadedFiles/Why_Florida/Financial_Advantages/Incentives/FLmicroloanlenders.pdf

The Able Trust/Florida Governor's Alliance for the Employment of Disabled Citizens
106 East College Avenue, Suite 820, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (888) 838-2253 or (850) 224-4493
E-mail: info@abletrust.org
URL: http://www.abletrust.org/

The Able Trust believes that when people with disabilities want to work, they should. The Trust supports individuals non-profit vocational rehabilitation programs throughout Florida with fund-raising, grant making and public awareness of disability issues.

Bay County Small Business Incubator
2500 Minnesota Avenue, Lynn Haven, Florida 32444
Phone: (850) 271-1107
Fax: (850) 271-1109
E-mail: bcsbi@knology.net
URL: http://www.nfci.org/

The Bay County Small Business Incubator (BCSBI) is a non-profit Small Business Incubator program established with a mission to give new and existing service and light manufacturing businesses the training and tools to become successful.

Business and Emerging Technology Accelerator BETA-1
317 Centre Street, Amelia Island, FL 32034
Phone: (904) 261-4334
E-mail: info@beta-1.com
URL: http://www.beta-1.com/

BETA-1 creates 21st century companies in North Florida and South Georgia by licensing or assisting in developing technology, and applying it to commercial market opportunities. We also help entrepreneurs and new ventures to dramatically reduce the risk of building and growing their companies through access to experienced business and technical professionals with broad development expertise.

Cenetec Venture, LLC
URL: http://www.cenetec.com/mainflash.htm

Cenetec Ventures is a leading integrated technology commercialization and venture capital firm providing comprehensive investment banking and operational services to emerging technology companies showing strong market potential.

Central Florida Community Development Corporation Inc.
847 Orange Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Phone: (386) 258-7520
Fax: (386) 238-3428
E-mail: geraldc@cfcdc.com
URL: http://www.cfcdc.com/

CFCDC will assist business clients with the development of an action plan to launch their business.

Collins Center for Public Policy, Inc.
1415 East Piedmont Drive, Suite 1, Tallahassee, Florida 32308
Phone: (850) 219-0082
Fax: (850) 219-0491
E-mail: mpritchett@collinscenter.org
URL: http://www.collinscenter.org/

The Collins Center uses its experience with various areas of government and business to provide clients with comprehensive consulting services.

FAAST, Inc.
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services & Technology, Inc.
325 John Knox Road, Building 400, Suite 402, Tallahassee, Florida, 32301-4546
Phone: (850) 487-3278
URL: http://www.faast.org/

FAAST works to improve the quality of life for all Floridians with disabilities through advocacy and awareness activities that increase access to and acquisition of assistive services and technology. Individuals who need funds to set up a home office for telecommunting or a home-based business can apply for a Telework loan to finance home modifications or adaptive equipment.

Florida Association for Microenterprise (FAME)
6260 North Ocean Boulevard, Ocean Ridge, FL 33435
Phone: (561) 742-1234
Fax: (561) 733-4461
E-mail: drlynna@aol.com

Florida Community Loan Fund, Inc.
3107 Edgewater Drive, Suite 2, Orlando, Florida 32804
Phone: (407) 246-0846
Fax: (407) 246-0856
E-mail: ignacio@fclf.org
URL: http://fclf.org/ (website is forthcoming)

Florida has a rapidly growing low-income population whose needs far exceed the current capacity of the states nonprofit sector. The fund is a statewide development lending intermediary that provides affordable, flexible capital to community-based groups that work to support economic development, affordable housing, and social services.

Florida Small Business Resource Page
1221 Brickell Avenue, Suite 900, Miami, Florida 33131-3234
Phone (305) 661-8503
Fax: (305) 661-8621
URL: http://members.aol.com/flacorps/flsmlbiz.htm

Florida Small Business Resources
URL: http://www.floridasmallbusiness.com/resources/resources.asp

Florida State Telecommuting Program
Department of Management Services
Human Resource Management
4050 Esplanade Way, Building 4040, Suite 360, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0950
Phone: (850) 922-5449
URL: http://www.state.fl.us/dms/hrm/telecom/telecommuting_home.html

"Telecommuting is a work arrangement whereby selected state employees are allowed to perform the normal duties and responsibilities of their positions through the use of computers or telecommunications, at home or another place apart from the employees' usual place of work."

Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
3 Independent Drive Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 924-1100
Fax: (904) 924-1103
URL: http://www.myjaxchamber.com/index.asp

Geographic Area Served: Northeast Florida, including Duval, Clay, Baker, Nassau, St. Johns, and Putnam Counties (Rural, Urban, Suburban)
Mission: To establish an effective microloan program in the First Coast region that will provide loans, training, and technical assistance to low-income persons.

Lee County Economic Development
2180 W. First Street, Suite 306, Fort Myers Fl 33901
Toll free: (800) 330-3161
Phone: (239 ) 338-3161
Fax: (239 ) 338-3227
URL: http://LeeCountyBusiness.com/contactus.html

Lee County Economic Development Corporation provides incentives and programs for small businesses which locate or relocate in the area.

Miami-Dade Department of Business Development
175 NW 1st Avenue, 28th Floor, Miami, FL 33128
Phone: (305) 349-5960
Fax: (305) 349-5919
URL: http://www.miamidade.gov/dbd/

The dept. is responsible for coordinating and implementing minority business enterprise activities.

MicroBusiness USA
3000 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 102, Miami, Florida 33137
Phone: (305) 438-1407
Fax: (305) 438-1411
E-mail: success@microbusinessusa.org
URL: http:// www.microbusinessusa.org

Micro-Business USA provides three levels of business skills training and loans to promote self employment for individuals whit limited access to resources.

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Stripart of People with Disabilities