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| Florida SBDC Network to Celebrate National SBDC Day |
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| Florida SBDC Network State Office (Pensacola, Fla.) – The Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance, will celebrate the ninth annual National SBDC Day Wednesday, March 19, 2025. |
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SBDC Day is a national, collective celebration of the success and impact that America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) foster each year. On SBDC Day, SBDCs nationally will share, in real time, the success stories and notable impacts SBDCs collectively have on the small business community at large. This special day will be celebrated with social media campaigns, proclamations, events, and other initiatives.
SBDCs are a key resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. With nearly 1,000 locations across the country, SBDCs are in every community providing local businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources needed to succeed. America’s SBDCs provide measurable economic results - in 2024 SBDCs nationally helped generate 80,995 new jobs, $6.6 billion in sales, $6.49 billion in capital, and helped businesses start 15,794 new businesses.
Founded in 1976 as one of the first SBDCs in the nation, the Florida SBDC Network will celebrate 50 years of helping Florida’s small businesses launch, grow and thrive next year. Hosted statewide by the University of West Florida, the Florida SBDC Network is the largest provider of assistance for small businesses in Florida. Through its team of expert business consultants and staff, the network offers no-cost consulting, training, and educational resources to help businesses across diverse industries—including manufacturing, technology, hospitality, and professional services—launch, grow and thrive.
“Florida’s 3.3 million small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” said Greg Britton, state director of the Florida SBDC Network. “On SBDC Day, we celebrate their resilience, innovation, and contributions to our communities. Thanks to the support of our stakeholders and partners, we remain committed to our mission of empowering business owners with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.”
In 2023, the Florida SBDC Network provided 111,720 hours of consulting to more than 14,800 small businesses, resulting in business owners securing $346 million in capital, securing more than $575 million in government contracts, impacting 19,263 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.9 billion, and creating 1,058 new businesses.
Autumn Blum, founder and CEO of Stream2Sea, created her reef-safe sunscreen and body care line after witnessing the environmental harm caused by traditional sunblocks. As she grew her Hardee County-based business, she turned to the Florida SBDC at USF for help securing local economic development grants and developing a strategic business plan. With ongoing support, including marketing guidance and capital access assistance, Stream2Sea has experienced rapid growth—doubling revenue almost every year and expanding from one to 17 employees. Now launching on cruise lines and reaching new markets, Blum continues to rely on the Florida SBDC at USF to help scale her business and strengthen her role as an entrepreneur.
To learn more about SBDC Day and to join the celebration, please visit https://floridasbdc.org/sbdcday/.
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About the Florida SBDC Network:
For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy. In 2023, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 111,720 hours of consulting to 14,808 small business clients - resulting in business owners securing $346 million in capital, $575 million in government contracting, impacting 19,263 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.9 billion, and creating 1058 businesses.
With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org. |
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