AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
315 East Robinson Street, Suite 100 Orlando, Florida 32801
407.420.4870
Website: BlackCommerce.org

The African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida serves our community as a conduit in providing invaluable mentoring, seminars, and network functions that assists our members with opportunities for designing blueprints for business development, growth, and success.

BLACK BUSINESS INVESTMENT FUND (BBIF)
315 E. Robinson Street, Suite 660, Orlando, Florida 32801
407.649.4780
Email: info@bbif.com Website: BBIF.com

The Black Business Investment Fund (BBIF) is a non-profit 501C4 CDFI (Certified Development Financing Institution) and CDE (Certified Development Enterprise) that specializes in providing loans to small and minority business owners. In addition, the BBIF assists businesses in building their management capacity through technical assistance services. Currently, the BBIF administers two loan programs, the Black Business Loan program (BBLP) and the Economic Gardening Pilot Loan program (EGPLP).

CENTRAL FLORIDA DISABILITY CHAMBER
315 E. Robinson Street, Suite 100, Orlando, Florida 32801
407.949.2907
Website: cilorlando.org/chamber/

The Central Florida Chamber for Persons with Disabilities, LLC is a subsidiary of the Center for Independent Living in Central Florida, Inc. The mission of the Central Florida Disability Chamber is to provide information and education on business creation and growth, specifically designed for the needs of people with disabilities.

DISNEY ENTREPRENEUR CENTER
315 E. Robinson Street, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32801
407.420.4848
Website: disneyec.com

The Disney Entrepreneur Center provides a single location where small businesses can access a variety of business resources, technology, research tools and more than 8 resident support organizations that can provide:
·  Free One-on-One Business Coaching
·  Low-cost Seminars
·  Powerful Networking Events
·  Access to Business Building Tools and Resources
·  Certification assistance for Minority Owned Businesses
·  Connections to Procurement Opportunities
·  Publicity Opportunities

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA
800 N. Magnolia Ave., Suite 1100, Orlando, FL 32803
407.956.5600
Website: eflorida.com

Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI) is a public-private partnership serving as Florida’s primary organization devoted to statewide economic
development. EFI's mission is to diversify Florida's economy and create better-paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create businesses in innovative, high-growth industries. EFI accomplishes this mission by focusing on a wide range of industry sectors, including clean energy, life sciences, information technology, aviation/aerospace, homeland security/defense, financial/professional services and manufacturing. In collaboration with a statewide network of regional and local economic development organizations, EFI helps to improve Florida's business climate, ensuring the state’s global
competitiveness.

FLORIDA HIGH-TECH CORRIDOR COUNCIL
1055 AAA Drive, Heathrow, FL 32746.
407.708.4630
Website: FloridaHighTech.com

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council's mission is to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and the workforce to support it within the 23-county Florida High Tech Corridor.

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) was established by the Legislature in 1996 to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and to help develop the workforce to support those industries in the 21-county service areas of the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the University of South Florida (USF). In January 2005, the Council welcomed the University of Florida (UF) as a full partner of this unique economic development initiative, merging the strengths of three world-class universities and bringing the number of Corridor counties to 23.

GROWFL
Florida Economic Gardening Institute
12201 Research Parkway, Suite 501, Orlando, FL 32826
407.823.6384
Website: GrowFL.com

At no charge, GrowFL will provide a suite of high-end, high-speed technical assistance and business tools to companies that have grown beyond the startup phase and need access to information and decision making tools such as:
-Information Tools Decision-Making Tools
-Database Research Strategy Analysis
-Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Managing Team Temperament
-Geographic Information Systems Capital Referrals(GIS) Labor Referrals
-Network Mapping Social Media Online Education Programs

HISPANIC BUSINESS INITIATIVE FUND
315 E. Robinson Street, Suite 465, Orlando, FL 32801
407.428.5872
Website:hbiforlando.org

HBIF is the leading Hispanic economic development, nonprofit organization in Florida that specializes in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs trying to establish or expand their business in Florida. If you are looking to start or expand your business or simply need information about small business resources in Florida, you have come to the right place! Here you will find information on how you can take advantage of our programs.

LAKE COUNTY ECONOMIC GROWTH AND REDEVELOPMENT
315 W. Main St., Suite 338. Tavares, FL 32778
352.343.9899
Website: LakeCountyFL.gov

The mission of the Lake County Department of Economic Growth & Redevelopment is to provide excellence in service as a liaison between companies and government with the goal of creating a business-friendly environment and quality jobs for the citizens of Lake County. The Department is fulfilling its mission by coordinating efforts with stakeholders and community leaders; enhancing and diversifying the tax base through innovation, industry attraction, and business development; promote quality of place; and develop, retain, and attract talent.

LAKE COUNTY CHAMBER ALLIANCE
71 Ardlussa Street, Umatilla, FL 32784
Website: LakeCountyChamberAlliance.com

The Chamber Alliance of Lake County, Inc., is a non-profit advocacy organization, providing a unified voice for Lake County chambers of commerce and their members at the County, State and National level. The Chamber Alliance advocates on behalf of participating Chambers on issues of common interest before various civic and governmental
agencies.

Who are the Chamber Alliance members?
The Chamber Alliance comprises 3,500 businesses represented through eight Lake County Chambers of Commerce:

East Lake Chamber of Commerce
25530 State Road 46
Sorrento, FL 32776
352.383.8801
chamber@elcchamber.com

Lady Lake Chamber of Commerce
106 South US Highway 441
Lady Lake, FL 32159
352.753.6029
www.ladylakechamber.com
bbernard2008@ladylakechamber.com

Lake Eustis Chamber of Commerce
1 W. Orange Avenue
Eustis, FL 32727
352.357.3434
www.eustischamber.org
info@eustischamber.org

LAKE SUMTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE BUSINESS RESOURCES CENTER
9501 US Highway 441, Leesburg, FL 34788 | 352.365.3556
www.businessresourcescenter.org

The Business Resources Center is a one stop source for business information in Lake and Sumter Counties and services include:

-Individual Counseling sessions in partnership with SCORE including business plan preparation.
-A Business Information Center (BIC) that has computers with business software such as PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher, and Internet access.

Additionally, we have a library of the Entrepreneur Magazine series on how to open over 40 different kinds of businesses and many different business publications.
·  Access to free answers on financial and legal questions.
·  We serve as a resource for loan information in both counties.
·  Seminars and classes on business skills and topics.
·  Information on training grants.
·  Newsletter on legal, HR, and other business information.
·  One stop source for business information in Lake and Sumter Counties.

METRO ORLANDO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

Lake County Office, 9501 US Highway 441, Leesburg, FL 34788 | 352.435.6329 |www.orlandoedc.com

The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission is a non-profit regional economic development organization that encompasses the counties of Lake, Orange Osceola, and Seminole. The Vision is to champion a more prosperous and diverse economy. The Mission of Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission is to aggressively attract, retain, and grow jobs for the Metro Orlando region.

MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS NETWORK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, INC.
P. O. Box 89512, Leesburg, Florida 34789-5192 | 800.986.3327 | www.msbncentralfl.com

The Minority Small Business Network of Central Fl, Inc. is a grassroots organization, with a passion to see minority small businesses succeed. We have partnered with several organizations to assist the members with business development, marketing & advertising, business plans, financial resources and other pertinent components, that will guide business owners into success. We host quarterly workshops & training sessions, along with a small business success & economic development conference.

The MSBN is committed to working with local chambers, government, and other organizations, to help create a synergy of economic empowerment and build a firm foundation for minority-owned businesses to compete in today’s marketplace. We believe in character & integrity and hold the members to a very high and professional business standard. The network is open to anyone. Although our target market is minority owned businesses, we believe that all small businesses can benefit, from being a part of a network of business professionals who are looking to get business, do business, and refer business. The MSBN is committed to be a driving force to booster our economy by educating & empowering small business owners, to nurture & grow their businesses, build quality relationships, and position themselves to coach someone else to a victory!

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS (NAWBO)
NAWBO Orlando Chapter | PO Box 536893, Orlando, FL 32853-6893
407.210.3933 | www.nawbo.org | membership@nawboorlando.org

NAWBO is the only dues-based organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries; and boasts over 7000 members and 80 chapters across the country. With far-reaching clout and impact, NAWBO is a one-stop resource to propelling women business owners into greater economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide. The organization prides itself on being a global beacon for influence, ingenuity and action and is uniquely positioned to provide incisive commentary on issues of importance to women business owners. Everything NAWBO undertakes leverages the unique attributes that women business owners bring to the table and is designed to illuminate, transform - and ultimately harness – the nation’s wide-ranging community of entrepreneurial women into an ever-more-influential voice and increasingly dynamic leadership roles. NAWBO Orlando's mission is to be the organization of choice for women in Central Florida through education, certification, philanthropy and social interaction. NAWBO is an organization that works to: STRENGTHEN the wealth-creating capacity of our members and promote economic development; CREATE innovative and effective changes in the business culture; ·  BUILD strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; TRANSFORM public policy and influence opinion.

SCORE 414 LAKE AND SUMTER
9501 US Highway 441, Leesburg, FL 34748 | 352.365.3556
www.score414.org | chapter_chair@score414.org

The Lake-Sumter Chapter of SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” is part of a national nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of the nation’s small business. SCORE volunteers serve as “Counselors to America's Small Business.” Lake-Sumter SCORE provides free and confidential business counseling tailored to meet the needs of your small business and your personal objectives. Lake-Sumter SCORE also offers workshops, for a modest fee, for both start-up entrepreneurs and in-business small business owners. The Lake –Sumter SCORE also partners with the Lake–Sumter Community College Business Resources Center to offer a Small Business Micro Loan Program. SCORE volunteers are real-world professionals with time-tested knowledge who donate thousands of hours to help small businesses succeed. Counselors are experts in such areas as accounting, finance, marketing, management and business plan preparation. The Lake-Sumter SCORE is comprised of more than 20 volunteers that provide guidance and counseling to entrepreneurs in the Lake and Sumter County area.

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
7825 Bay Meadows Way, Jacksonville, FL 32356 | 904.443.1900 | www.sba.gov/fl/north

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America's future, and to helping the United States compete in today's global marketplace. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT UCF—LEESBURG
600 Market Street, Leesburg, Florida 34748 | 352.315.1846
jspencer@bus.ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com

The SBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia Counties. The SBDC at UCF is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide service funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Services include:

Counseling:
·  One-on-one counseling is provided by professionally trained, experienced Certified Business Analysts.
·  Private and public-sector professionals are utilized to address specialized and complex client needs.
·  Counseling sessions are personalized, confidential, and free of charge.

Training: SBDC workshops, seminars and conferences provide practical, up-to-date information on business topics ranging from the basics to more advanced business management skills. Instructors include SBDC CBA's, faculty from higher education, government experts and private sector professionals. Nominal fees are charged for most seminars.

Areas of Assistance:
Accounting: asset management, record keeping systems and procedures.
Finance: ratio analysis, breakeven analysis, financial projections and business valuation.
Marketing: pricing, advertising and promotion, marketing planning, market research and exporting.
Operations: production and inventory control, project management, risk management and energy conservation.
New Venture Planning: start-up information, feasibility analysis, business planning and general business consulting.
Technical Assistance: preliminary patent searches, patent, copyright and trademark, and technology transfer and SBIR/STTR.

UCF BUSINESS INCUBATOR—LEESBURG

600 Market Street, Leesburg, Florida 34748352.315.1846 | jspencer@mail.ucf.edu |www.incubator.ucf.edu

The goal of the UCF Business Incubation Program (UCFBIP) and its community partners is to facilitate smarter, faster startup and growth of emerging companies so those companies will become financially successful, high growth companies in the community.

Areas of Assistance for our Clients:  Advisory Services·  Education & Networking Events·  Finances & Accounting·  Intellectual Property & Technology·  Legal Assistance·  Office Operations·  PR & Marketing·  Sales Assistance

UCFBIP clients are provided an array of business development services and resources to help accelerate growth. The formal incubation process takes place through a series of strategic and tactical working sessions. The strategic sessions are designed to help define the company business, market and capital strategies and to build the business plan. Expertise and resources are identified for the company to utilize in addressing tactical needs as they are identified through the strategy sessions or through other informal interactions with Incubator staff and advisors. Regular education and networking programs also are designed to address the shared needs identified among UCFBIP clients .Graduation takes place when a client has achieved a level of financial and corporate growth that enables them to leave the incubator and enter the second stage of corporate growth.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE | RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Florida & U.S. Virgin Islands | Area 4 | 2441 NE 3 St, Suite 204-1, Ocala, FL 34470
Office (352) 732-7534  option 5 | Fax (352) 732-9728 | Email: alan.pratt@fl.usda.gov

USDA’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for all rural Americans." Our assistance is provided in many ways, including direct or guaranteed loans, grants, technical assistance, research and educational materials. To accomplish our mission, USDA Rural Development often works in partnership with state, local and tribal governments, as well as rural businesses, cooperatives and nonprofit agencies. Rural Development programs are delivered through our Utilities Programs, which address rural America's need for basic services such as clean running water, sewers and waste disposal, electricity, and telecommunications; our Housing Programs, which address rural America's need for single-family and multi-family housing as well as health facilities, fire and police stations, and other community facilities, and; our Business Programs, which provide help to rural areas that need to develop new job opportunities, allowing businesses and cooperatives to remain viable in a changing economy. We also have Community Development Programs that operate special initiatives to demonstrate effective community development techniques and address unique and pressing economic development issues.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is “to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for all rural Americans." Our assistance is provided in many ways, including direct or guaranteed loans, grants, technical assistance, research and educational materials. Rural Development programs are delivered through our Utilities Programs, which address rural America's need for basic services such as clean running water, sewers and waste disposal, electricity, and telecommunications; our Housing Programs, address rural America's need for single-family and multi-family housing as well as health facilities, fire and police stations, and other community facilities, and; our Business Programs, which provide help to rural areas that need to develop new job opportunities, allowing businesses and cooperatives to remain viable in a changing economy. We also have Community Development Programs that operate special initiatives to demonstrate effective community development techniques and address unique and pressing economic development issues.

WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA
707 Mendham Blvd., Suite 250, Orlando, FL 32825 | 407.531.1222 or 800.757.4598 www.workforcecentralflorida.com

WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA (WFC) is the region’s workforce expert, an authority for workforce planning, programs, and the labor market. WCF connects employers to the largest pool of talent in the area and provides worker resources and training. As the region's largest permanent placement agency, WCF has helped over 4,700 employers connect with more than 54,000 job seekers each year. WCF offers innovative solutions to assist Central Florida businesses succeed in today's highly competitive workforce, while providing the tools job seekers need to find employment.