Small Business is the backbone of our economy. Each week I highlight newly opened or expanded businesses in our community that my team or I have visited. Congratulations to these hard-working entrepreneurs and best wishes for their continued success as they realize their American Dream!
Traci and Kyle McKay own and operate Turtle Girl, a gopher tortoise surveying, permitting and relocation business in Citrus County. My team was proud to attend their recent ribbon cutting.
My team also celebrated the grand opening of the locally owned and operated new Culver’s in Hernando County.
Additionally, during my recent tele-townhall, several senior officials from the Small Business Administration (SBA) shared information regarding support services that are available to help local small business owners. As a follow-up to that discussion, here are the websites, and email addresses that were referenced on the call which may be helpful to local small business owners or those who aspire to become one.
SBA South Florida District
Website: www.sba.gov/southflorida
Email: southflorida_DO@sba.gov
Althea Harris, Deputy District Director: althea.harris@sba.gov
SBA Resource Partners – to find an organization near you www.sba.gov/local-assistance
Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) https://floridasbdc.org/ – locations throughout Florida
SCORE Offices www.score.org – locations through out Florida
Jacksonville Women’s Business Center https://jaxchamberfoundation.org/jacksonville-womens-business-center/
Helen Gordon Browne Women’s Center (Tampa) https://thecentre.org/businesscentre/
weVenture Women’s Business Center at Florida Tech https://weventure.fit.edu/
Florida Women’s Business Center (Delray Beach) https://www.flwbc.org/
Veteran Business Outreach Center (Panama City) https://vboc.org/
Apex Accelerators (assistance with govt contracting) –fptac.org
Gus Bilirakis
Member of Congress
