MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech’s weVENTURE Women’s Business Center, the essential provider of programs and support for entrepreneurs and small-business owners on the Space Coast and beyond, has been named Florida’s State Lead Center by the U.S. Small Business Administration and awarded a $1.5 million grant to help grow the statewide support network.
Under the federal Women’s Business Center (WBC) Modernization Initiative, the SBA’s Women’s Business Ownership Office has provided individual centers in Florida and four other states with a portion of $5.3 million in obligated funds to serve as statewide hubs working with other service centers to deliver assistance directly to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
This approach, the SBA says, reduces fragmentation, improves coordination and efficiency, and ensures that women business owners can more easily access the SBA’s resources at every stage of business ownership.
“Through coordinated statewide networks, these awards will bring counseling, training and access to capital closer to the women starting businesses, creating jobs and strengthening their communities,” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said in a news release announcing the grants.
As lead center, Bisk College of Business-based weVENTURE will work with and help guide Florida’s three additional operating WBCs in Tampa, Jacksonville and Delray Beach to expand statewide outreach and accessibility, including to underserved, often rural areas.
“We are honored and excited that the SBA has asked us to lead this modernization effort for all of Florida,” said weVENTURE Executive Director Liz Llinás. “Expanding where and how we provide critical services, including business counseling and coaching, training and technical assistance, will help empower entrepreneurs and in turn add strength and depth to the state’s business ecosystem.”
