The Florida SBDC Network is here to help small businesses recover after Hurricane Ian. And in this special segment of Small Biz Florida, Florida SBDC Network CEO, Greg Britton walks you through how our consultants are working with local businesses that have been affected by the hurricane. In particular, we'll discuss the SBA disaster loan programs and other assistance funding available to businesses in the affected counties. 

Topics covered in this episode include: 

Overview of the Florida SBDC Networks Role. Emergency Support Function (ESF) -18 for Business & Industry.

What Coordinating with SBA and state on disaster response looks like. 

Federal and state disaster loans are also available; help small businesses understand these programs, determine eligibility, and apply.

Standing up and staffing BRCs; where businesses can get personal assistance in applying for disaster loans.

Also deployed MACs into hard-hit communities to serve as BRCs when a physical location isn’t available; also expanding our reach into more rural communities.

What is a MAC and what goes on inside the MACs?

What loan programs are available to businesses right now?

– Check out the Florida SBDC Disaster Resource Page here: https://floridasbdc.org/disaster/ 

For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram!

Having trouble securing capital to meet your small business exporting needs? You can use the U.S. Small Business Administration’s international trade finance programs to cover short-term or long-term costs which are necessary to sell goods or services abroad. 

On this segment of Small Biz Florida host, Tom Kindred is joined by Experts in Trade Finance Daniel Pische who serves as National Director of Trade Finance at U.S. Small Business Administration, Sandro Murtas who serves as Lead Export Finance Manager, Office of International Trade, US Small Business Administration, Florida, Puerto Rico & US Virgin Islands, and repeat guest on the show Hernan Mayol who serves as SBA Export Finance Manager. 

We had a full round table of experts covering all things International Trade and Export Financing through the SBA. Hear all the details on this segment of Small Biz Florida. 

– Check out the SBA Trade Finance Fact Sheet for more information here: https://www.sba.gov/brand/assets/sba/sba-lenders/OIT-International-Trade-factsheet.pdf  

For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders Conference hosted at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. 

– To learn more about FLAGGL, visit their website here

The SBA’s South Florida District Office services 24 counties in southern Florida. They have offices in Miami, Ft. Pierce, and Tampa. Althea Harris serves these communities as Deputy District Director for the SBA’s South Florida Office. She is joined by Allen Thomas who serves as Regional Administrator for the Southeast Regional SBA Office. 

Althea and Allen joined host, Tom Kindred for a discussion about the resources available to small business owners, lending opportunities, disaster preparedness, and much more. 

Listen to this episode to learn about the resources available to small business owners in the state of Florida. 

– Check out: https://www.sba.gov/district/south-florida 

For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders Conference hosted at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. 

– To learn more about FLAGGL, visit their website here

Biz2X is the platform chosen for business lending at banks and financial institutions around the world. Lenders choose this platform because they want to transform their lending practices digitally. 

Host, Tom Kindred is joined by Justin Musella, Senior Account Executive and Harris Marshall Sr. Enterprise Account Executive from Biz2X. They talk all things FinTech and cover how Biz2X is transforming the way banks do business online. 

– Check out: https://www.biz2x.com/ 

For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders Conference hosted at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. 

– To learn more about FLAGGL, visit their website here

Get fast, economical, custom funding and realize your small business or startup dreams with help from BeneTrends Financial. BeneTrends experts provide an innovative approach to help you achieve the ideal funding you need to get your ideas off the ground for long-term entrepreneurial success!

During a special segment of Small Biz Florida, we had the opportunity to interview Larry Carnell who serves as Vice President of Business Development for BeneTrends. Larry also is a Nationally Respected Award Winning Franchise & Funding Expert, Broker, Trainer & Consultant. 

Larry tells us about BeneTrends’ Rainmaker Plan® a program designed to help potential entrepreneurs maximize the benefits of their retirement plans by allowing them to fund a business without taking out a loan. Learn more about this program and others by listening to this episode. 

– Check out: https://www.benetrends.com/ 

For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders Conference hosted at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. 

– To learn more about FLAGGL, visit their website here

On this episode of Small Biz Florida, we had an opportunity to sit down with District Director Jon “Malcolm” Richards and Deputy District Director Jonel Hein. They were available to give us an overview of how the SBA helps Small Businesses in Florida. They discussed loan programs, disaster preparedness, and much more.

– Check out: https://www.sba.gov/district/north-florida 

For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders Conference hosted at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. 

– To learn more about FLAGGL, visit their website here

“Spend less time chasing files and more time wowing clients” with FileInvite. FileInvite is a software that can help small and large enterprises save and share documents, signatures, and files with clients safely and securely. FileInvite has helped companies save time and money by making file sharing simple and easy for clients.

Cindy Novak is a Senior Executive at FileInvite a New Zealand-based software company that was designed to deliver better, faster, and more secure onboarding experiences. Cindy gives Small Biz Florida a rundown of what FileInvite is all about. If you are interested in using this tool for your company check out this episode to learn more about it. 

– Check out: https://www.fileinvite.com/ 

For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders Conference hosted at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. 

– To learn more about FLAGGL, visit their website here

The primary purpose of Small Biz Florida is to highlight and create awareness for all of Florida’s small business assistance and resource programs. One of the most effective ways to learn about, gather and share information on these resources is to attend and work at Florida’s top small business and economic development conferences.

One of these important business events was the recent Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders Conference held in Orlando, Florida. Small Biz Florida was on the scene during the conference, recording and producing segments. 

We would like to thank The FLAGGL Team and Event Organizers for allowing the podcast to be part of the recent conference.

The next 17 segments of Small Biz Florida were all produced and recorded at the conference-hopefully the segments will provide our listeners with valuable and beneficial information.

Please like, rate, and share our show to continue supporting the podcast with your networks, family, and friends. To stay connected and up to date on our latest releases, follow our Instagram @SmallBizFlorida!

We are so thankful for the growing and overwhelming support of our listeners. We hope our work is inspiring and helping all business owners in Florida and Nationwide!

On this special episode of Small Biz Florida host, Tom Kindred is joined by Public Affairs Specialist for the Small Business Administration Courtney Smith.

Courtney Smith is a Public Affairs Specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Disaster Assistance, Field Operations Center East (Atlanta, GA). Her duty is to promote SBA’s Disaster Loan program to the media, community, businesses, civic and community organizations, and elected officials. She responds to disasters that occur within the FOCE territory-the 27 states east of the Mississippi River, plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Courtney resides in Atlanta and has served five years in the capacity of Public Affairs Specialist with SBA.

Together, Tom and Courtney discuss Small Business Administration Loan Programs available to businesses that suffered from Hurricane Ian's destruction. They cover several topics including different loan products, where you can go to get help filling out an application, how programs like the SBDC can help you recover or reconstruct lost business documents, and much more. This episode is one you don't want to miss.

More information will be posted regarding Business Recovery Centers in the State of Florida and How to get in touch with FEMA and the SBA. Stay Tuned.

Business Recovery Centers as of 10/07/20222 (These Locations and Times are Subject to Change) 

Hillsborough County 

Chloe Coney Urban Enterprise Center 1907 E Hillsborough Ave. Tampa FL, 33610Mon-Sat 9-5 PM    Sat 9-1 PM

 

Lee County

The HUB at SFWL INC25071 Chamber of Commerce Drive, Bonita Springs FL, 34135Sun-Sat 9-5 PM

 

Collier County

The Naples Players701 5th Ave South, Naples FL, 34102Mon 9-4:30 PM   Tue-Sun 9-5 PM

 

Seminole County

Sanford Information Center230 E. First Street, Sanford FL, 32771Sun-Sat 9-6 PM

Tom Kindred explains what the next segments of Small Biz Florida will be like following Hurricane Ian. We will be releasing a series of episodes covering what business owners need to know about the Disaster Relief Programs available through our Florida SBDC Network, SBA, and FEMA. Subscribe to our show to stay up to date on news that can help your road to recovery go smoother. 

Follow our Instagram page @SmallBizFlorida to get quick mobile updates every time we release a new segment.