BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief is proud to announce the Business Loan Seminar Series. This is a primary component of the Mayor’s “Broward Means Business” initiative and is designed to increase awareness about the State of Florida’s loan programs for the benefit of small businesses. There will be six free seminars conducted by subject matter experts throughout Broward County beginning Saturday, March 15, 10:30 a.m., at the Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Drive in Coral Springs. (See complete schedule with dates, times and locations below.)
“I want to make sure that every opportunity is given to businesses to be informed and given the tools necessary to qualify for loans or grants under the program,” said Mayor Sharief. “The Broward Means Business initiative includes educational programs. These free seminars will empower business owners and operators to get their share of these funds.”
Attendees can expect to leave the seminar with a working knowledge of Florida’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) , including an overview of the two primary programs – Florida Venture Capital Program and the Small Business Loan Support Program. The Florida Venture Capital Program targets emerging companies in the state with long-term growth potential. The Small Business Loan Support Program provides small businesses with tools to access commercial banks and export financing.
Created as part of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, the SSBCI was designed by the federal government to help states strengthen existing loan and equity programs and/or create new programs that support financing small businesses. Florida was allocated more than $97.6 million by the U.S. Department of Treasury to implement the SSBCI. States can use these funds for programs that leverage private lending to creditworthy small businesses to expand and create jobs.
The Business Loan Seminar series is presented by Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief and the Office of Economic and Small Business Development in conjunction with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Enterprise Florida and Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFCFC). For more information, call Mayor Sharief’s office at 954-357-7008.
Business Loan Seminar Series Schedule
Saturday, March 15, 2014 | 10:30 a.m. – Noon– Northwest Regional Library 3151 University Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33065 Featured Speaker: Anthony Ferretti, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFCFC) The seminar will be part of the Health and Social Services Vendor Opportunity Expo presented by the Office of Economic and Small Business Development.
Saturday, March 29, 2014 | 10:30 a.m. – Noon Southwest Regional Library 16835 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines, FL 33331 Featured Speaker: Anthony Ferretti, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFCFC)
Saturday, April 12, 2014 | 10:30 a.m. – Noon Miramar Branch Library 2050 Civic Center Place, Miramar, FL 33025 Featured Speaker: Anthony Ferretti, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFCFC)
Thursday, April 17, 2014 | 6 – 7:30 p.m. Broward County Governmental Center 115 S. Andrews Ave., Room 430 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Featured Speaker: David Rodriguez, Enterprise Florida The seminar will be part of the Business Development Workshop presented by the Office of Economic and Small Business Development.
Saturday, May 24, 2014 | 10:30 a.m. – Noon Hallandale Beach Branch Library 300 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 Featured Speaker: David Rodriguez, Enterprise Florida
Saturday, June 21, 2014 | 10:30 a.m. – Noon Southwest Regional Library 16835 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines, FL 33331 Featured Speaker: Jennifer Schrader, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
