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Florida SBDC Network Celebrates 40 Years of Helping State's Small Businesses

Feb 2016

The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is celebrating 40 years of helping the state's small businesses grow and succeed this year. Florida First Capital is proud to have worked with the Florida SBDC Network over many of those years to provide Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 Loan Program financing to many of the small business owners the organization has assisted.

In 1976, the Florida SBDC Network was funded by the SBA as one of eight original SBDC pilot programs in the country. Originating as one man at the University of West Florida overseeing two centers in Northwest Florida and serving a handful of clients, the Florida SBDC Network has since grown to become the largest SBDC in the country, with over 40 centers and nearly 250 employees providing tools, training, and expertise to thousands of Florida's entrepreneurs and small business owners annually (full details).

The Florida SBDC Network and Florida First Capital work together under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in an effort to advance economic development in Florida. Through this agreement, both organizations work in conjunction to help small businesses obtain the necessary financing to expand and grow. The Florida SBDC Network provides technical assistance to clients with SBA 504 Loan program application packages and Florida First Capital provides the SBA 504 financing.

“A key strategy for our organization is to build strategic partnerships that expand and enhance our ability to serve our client businesses with organizations who share our mission,” said Michael Myhre, CEO and Network State Director for the Florida SBDC. “The MOU formalized our two organizations working together in the best interest of Florida and Florida's small businesses.”

In fact, the Florida SBDC Network State Office provided Florida First Capital with 50 Community Development Letters for projects amounting to more than $108 million in capital and 285 jobs last year. That's partnership at work!

“This alliance greatly strengthens both organizations' core mission of economic development and job creation. It expands the Florida SBDC Network's ability to provide expert guidance and technical assistance for growing small businesses coupled with Florida First Capital's 30+-year history of providing accessible low-cost and long-term expansion capital through the SBA 504 Loan Program, which has resulted in the delivery of over $2 billion in total project financing and the creation of more than 15,000 jobs that support Florida's economy,” said FFCFC's Kocourek.

Congratulations to the Florida SBDC Network on 40 great years and on a partnership that is working and benefitting growing small businesses throughout Florida!

To learn more about the Florida SBDC Network or to find a local Florida SBDC center, visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

For more information about SBA 504 loans in Florida,contact a Florida First Capital Loan Officeror email us atinfo@ffcfc.com. Phone: 850.681.3601 or toll-free at 888.320.5504.