Small businesses in rural areas of Florida will have new opportunities for support with the launch of Florida’s Rural Business Resource Tour. The initiative, co-hosted by FloridaCommerce and the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, aims to provide direct access to business resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners in less populated communities.
The tour will begin on October 2 at Big Bend Technical College in Perry, targeting businesses from Taylor, Lafayette, and Dixie counties. Future events are planned across other rural counties. Attendance is free and open to all businesses, especially those located in rural areas or organizations supporting emerging local enterprises. Registration details can be found at www.floridasbdc.org/ruraltour.
J. Alex Kelly, Secretary of Commerce for Florida, explained the purpose behind the initiative: “Our goal is simply to bring Florida’s services and resources for small and emerging businesses directly to rural communities – communities where business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs place greater value on direct, local, face to face outreach.” He also noted collaboration with agencies such as DBPR, CareerSource, DOE, DOT, DEP, DMS among others.
Greg Britton, state director of the Florida SBDC Network added: “We are thrilled to launch Florida’s Rural Business Resource Tour to bring support and resources directly to our state’s rural communities. Whether someone is looking to launch a new venture or expand an existing business, the Rural Resource Tour is for them. Rural entrepreneurs are vital to our state and the Resource Tour is about making sure they have direct access to the tools and resources they need to succeed – right in their own backyard.”
The tour is organized with participation from several advocacy groups representing the state’s three Rural Areas of Opportunity (RAOs), along with partners such as CareerSource Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Department of Education (DOE), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Management Services (DMS), Department of Transportation (DOT), First Capital Finance Corporation, FloridaMakes, UF/IFAS and VISIT FLORIDA.
Participants will be able to learn about business development assistance; explore federal, state and local resources; access funding information; strengthen resiliency planning; receive digital readiness guidance; and network with regional organizations.
Each partner agency will offer specialized support relevant for rural small businesses. For example:
– CareerSource North Florida will present talent solutions including training programs.
– FloridaCommerce will offer disaster preparedness tools and information on loan programs.
– The DBPR provides regulatory guidance including licensure fee waivers.
– The Department of Education supports workforce education aligned with local needs.
– Other agencies like DACS promote agricultural membership programs while VISIT FLORIDA highlights tourism marketing opportunities.
Through this coordinated effort among state agencies and economic organizations in Florida, rural entrepreneurs can gain direct access to services that aim at improving their sustainability and growth prospects.
