Along the balmy Gulf Coast, an ardent educator with roots in Puerto Rico embarked on a journey that would transform her love for teaching into a thriving, expanding business.
Tucked into another corner of the panhandle, a military spouse and pilot’s wife created a company out of togetherness and memories through salt and ink. Her family’s Japanese artform would later become featured in area restaurants and homes from here to Alaska as well as the Pensacola Museum of Art.
And few may know that a local, petite restaurant boasting fresh, quality Latin food (including tacos, tamales, and aguas frescas) features a mosaic the owner and his family created using over 500 plates and pots sourced from across the region.
Stories Tell the Most
These are just a few of the recent success stories the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of West Florida (UWF) has highlighted. The Florida SBDC at UWF assists entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout Northwest Florida with no-cost consulting, training, and research tools to better set them up for success.
“Local businesses are more successful with help, and community economies do better with successful local business,” emphasizes Regional Director Kelly Massey.
By the Numbers
According to the most recent economic impact study conducted for the Florida SBDC Network — headquartered at UWF in an office downtown — for every $1 invested in the state SBDC, nearly $60 goes back to the state in tax revenue. At FSBDC and the UWF Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business, that’s called a good return on investment.
Florida SBDC services in the last year have resulted in $4.5 billion in sales, $430 million in fiscal impact, and impacted 52,000 jobs. The Florida SBDC at UWF itself, with offices along the coast and outreach locations throughout the region, has consulted with over 1,300 businesses, provided nearly 10,500 consulting hours, helped start 161 new businesses and support 5,303 jobs, as well as aided the access of $31.5 million in capital and $52.8 million in government contract awards. It’s also assisted 952 underserved businesses and conducted 55 training workshops.
From disaster support in rural communities to cybersecurity assistance for companies doing business with the government. From helping advance a bustling e-commerce shop turned brick-and-mortar to how to run a franchise better, manage finances, scale, exit, or pitch on Shark Tank. The FSBDC at UWF, housed within the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business, is dedicated to making each year more impactful.
Don’t Just Take It From Us
Client Kiani Richardson’s brainchild, the Navarre Montessori Academy, stands today as an example of a quality childcare business. It provides educational excellence including bilingualism as well as both individual and community empowerment.
With SBDC support, she improved her business, secured a loan via the U.S. Small Business Administration, is carving out a place for expansion, and she’s launched deeper into leadership as a mentor to other childcare entrepreneurs helping tackle area childcare shortages.
“It was kind of like walking with my eyes closed,” Kiani says of opening her own business, until she met resource partners like the SBDC. “The SBDC helped me be confident in my business.”
Judy Otero of Saltwater Impressions agrees.
“I had the vision, but I wasn’t sure how to proceed to make it happen,” she explains about what it was like before learning about the SBDC and gaining the wherewithal to make the leap and pursue a dream in retirement.
Judy’s family performs Gyotaku, the Japanese method of printing fish and a practice that dates to the mid-1800s. Gyotaku (魚拓) means gyo (fish) and taku (stone impression). Those who fished used this form of nature printing to record their catches and keep the memory of that day. Judy and her family create the impression by gently painting the fish with non-toxic sumi ink and laying rice paper over the fish to make the impression. By using non-toxic ink, the fish can still be washed, eaten, and enjoyed.
The founder of this local sustainable business effort adds with a smile: “I think SBDC is such a fabulous resource, and even though I’m small fish — no pun intended — I love that something or someone encourages and motivates you to do it. And do it right.”
Geo Zelaya owns the gem Tacos El Fluffy on Pace Boulevard.
A young Black kid from Honduras, Geo’s mom brought their family to the United States for the American Dream, he shares. He would go on to serve in the United States Navy. Then he would continue to cultivate his longtime culinary skills and clench Pensacola’s 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year award.
“Programs like the SBDC that have been, I mean, amazing is an understatement,” he says. “Helping entrepreneurs like myself navigating the unknown of opening up the business … it’s been beyond incredible.”
Geo continues to explain how the SBDC team made obstacles and barriers feel much smaller if not insignificant.
“A tip I would tell my younger self,” he reflects with a grin, “if I would’ve known earlier, I would’ve reached out to the SBDC.”
More Remarkable News
The Florida SBDC at UWF recently received its Regional Economic Impact Study Results for 2023, doubling its annual jobs impact and fiscal contributions. The following are the results of the consulting and training services provided by the Florida SBDC at UWF in our 10-county region.
- Total output of $313,077,653.
- Economic impact of 999 direct jobs, 292 indirect jobs, and 313 induced jobs for a total jobs impact of 1,604.
- Total fiscal impact of $38,641,514.
- Total labor income of $87,957,329.
- Total value added of $153,712,180.
Learn more about your local SBDC, and how we can help you or someone you know, at sbdc.uwf.edu.