Actually, there is a source of free advice and support. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Polk County, an agency administered by the Polk County Commission, assists locally owned businesses with financial analyses, marketing assistance, preparation of loan packages, and other services.
The center operates under the umbrella of the Central Florida Development Council, Polk County?s official economic development organization. Funding for the SBDC comes from taxes paid for county business licenses and from a grant provided by the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, said Dawn Decaminada, the county agency?s certified business analyst. The state?network is one of eight original pilot programs first funded in 1976 by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The federal grant program requires matching funding from a local entity.
The center?s budget of $343,635 includes $125,000 that filters down from the Small Business Administration through state and regional agencies. The county provides nearly $220,000 in funds and in-kind services.
Decaminada, the Polk agency?s only certified business consultant, said her agency?s services are available to any Polk business with 500 or fewer employees. While she devotes much of her time to advising startup businesses, she said she also assists existing businesses looking to expand or seeking new loans.
Decaminada works in the Neil Combee Administration Building in Bartow.
She said that location makes it easy for her to advise clients on such matters as needed permits by directing them to county departments based in the same building.
Polk County?s Small Business Development Center is unusual in being overseen by county government, Decaminada said. Most such centers, she said, are supported by universities.
Decaminada said she is careful to avoid telling entrepreneurs what they should do. She said her role is to examine business plans and ask probing questions.
?I make them give me the numbers,? she said.
Decaminada said the county has tools that can help entrepreneurs decide if their plans are feasible. For example, she said she can pull up demographic data for the entire county or specific areas. Though she?s based in Bartow, Decaminada said she travels the county on ?circuit rides,? meeting clients at their offices.
Anyone interested in seeking assistance from the Small Business Development Center may call 863-534-5915 or contact Decaminada at?dawn@cfdc.org.
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