Monday, September 26, 2022

We Want to Hear From You!

The City of Hollywood’s Office of Communications, Marketing, and Economic
Development and the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce have
launched a joint Business Survey and Visitation Program. Nationally, over 70% of
employment growth in a community comes from the retention and expansion
of existing businesses. The City and Chamber recognize that Hollywood’s
existing businesses make investments in facilities, create jobs, and provide a
support network that is at the heart of a strong local economy.

The Business Survey and Visitation Programs aims to:
• Enhance lines of communication with the Hollywood business community
and learn more about current and future operational plans
• Act as an avenue to connect local companies with resources to support
growth, expansion, sustainability, and networking opportunities
• Identify and analyze trends, challenges, and opportunities facing our
existing businesses and mobilize appropriate resources, programs, and
services when appropriate

Learn more and take the survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PXWCC2J

Jobs in Broward County increased by 39,200 or 4.6% year over year as of August 2022

Broward County’s job report indicated a 2.8% unemployment rate in August 2022. This rate was 2.0% age points lower than the area’s year-ago rate of 4.8%. The labor force was 1,077,924, up 41,150 (+4.0%) over the year. Nonagricultural employment in the Ft. Lauderdale-Pompano Bch-Deerfield Bch Metro Division was 887,000, an increase of 39,200 jobs (4.6%) over the year. 
 
“With more than 39,000 jobs added in August, Broward County’s year-over-year job growth continues to trend upward at a rapid pace. Greater Fort Lauderdale is a location of choice for companies in high-value targeted industries, supporting the overall job growth in the county,” said Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance President/CEO, Bob Swindell.  “We thank our many partners, investors and leaders at Broward County and our municipalities, who have been working with us to grow and diversify the economy.”

Data and Analysis

In the month of August, the Professional and Business Services (+12,300, +7.8%), Construction (+2,500, +5.1%), and Education and Health Services (+5,300, +4.8%) industries grew faster in the metro area than statewide over the year.
 
All industries gained jobs over the year, the top two included Professional and Business Services (+12,300, +7.8%) and Leisure and Hospitality (+8,200, +9.4%).
 
Non-Agricultural employment shows a month to month increase of 13,400 jobs or +1.5% growth. All industries gained jobs over the month.

Applications Due September 30

The SBEP is designed for CEOs, entrepreneurs, business owners, and presidents of small businesses, while the NPEP is for executive directors, presidents, and CEOs of nonprofit organizations. Graduates emerge as stronger leaders, who are ready to capitalize on business opportunities, implement best practice management, and turn challenges into a strategic advantage. 

Apply Now: https://jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu/programs

The U.S. Small Business Administration celebrates the impact Hispanic entrepreneurs have had on the U.S. economy and commemorates some of the many ways Hispanics have influenced and contributed to American society. 

Economic impact
According to the Joint Economic Committee Hispanic Entrepreneurship and Business Brief:

• Nearly one in four new businesses is Hispanic-owned.
• The nearly 5 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States contribute more than $800 billion to the American economy annually.
• There are more than 300,000 Hispanic-owned, employer businesses located across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These enterprises employ at least one employee other than the owner.
• Hispanic employer businesses employ about 1 million workers, with more than $100 billion in annual payroll. The number of Hispanic-owned businesses that employ at least one employee other than the owner increased by 14% between 2012 and 2017 — more than twice as fast as the national average.
• In the decade preceding the pandemic, the number of Hispanic business owners increased 34% compared to an increase of just 1% among non-Hispanic business owners.
• Federal contracting programs
• The 8(a) Business Development program offers a broad scope of assistance to firms that are owned and controlled at least 51% by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Learn more & review resources

New Program Provides Late Shift Employees Direct Rides to and From Work 

Broward County Transit (BCT) recognizes the need for a transportation solution that can provide residents access to/from employment opportunities outside the regular fixed-route service span. Late Shift Connect provides on-demand and direct transportation for late shift workers when regular transit services are generally not available. 

Participants can request rides to/from their places of employment and home if their work shift begins or ends between 11PM and 6AM, 5 days per week. Anyone who works the late shift in Broward County is eligible. Your contact information and employer address and contact information are required.
For more information or to enroll, visit lateshiftconnect.org.

This webinar features business owners from various businesses sharing their unique ownership stories and their advice to other owners on leading a successful and growing businesses into the future and to build a strong financial future for the owner.
 
The conversation will cover multiple areas of business ownership, including:

• The current issue of employee retention and talent attraction.

• Understanding a business’ realistic value.

• Planning for a change in ownership and planning the financial future of owners that exit the business.

Register

Join an all day, in-person workshop designed to educate minority and small businesses regarding procurement readiness. The morning session will include experts in procurement sharing their best practices. The afternoon session will provide opportunities regarding how to do business with over 20 organizations.

As small and minority businesses prepare to learn from and emerge stronger in the post-pandemic world, business owners must reimagine new and innovative ways to manage marketing and selling their products and services. The procurement boot camp will provide your business the resources needed to pivot and start selling your products and services to government agencies and large corporation. 

Register

October 12: The Inaugural South Florida Space Day 

Connect and network with entrepreneurs, students, funders, and many more! Hear from keynote speakers, panelist, participate in seminars, enjoy a business EXpo, and network while supporting the economy of space entrepreneurship.

FREE: Register

2022 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND 
CULTURAL EXPO (FITCE)

Available Grants and/or Loans and Credit Program

• Employee Retention Credit - IRS : A program designed to make it easier for businesses that, despite challenges posed by COVID-19, choose to keep their employees on payroll. 

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• SOAR Fund | Connect2Capital (County loans for small businesses and non profits) - The fund will be administered by NDC on behalf of the county

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• U.S. SBA Funding Programs : Explore a list of SBA funding programs.

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• SBA Loans: Explore a list of recovery funds from SBA and various organizations.

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• Broward Municipal Services District Revolving Loan Fund (BMSD RLF): This new small business lending program provides flexible, low-cost capital for existing businesses as well as new start-up businesses in the BMSD. The Urban League of Broward County is partnering with the Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development, and the National Development Council (NDC) to assist existing BMSD businesses and property owners, as well as entrepreneurs that are interested in starting new businesses or relocating to the BMSD.

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• South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC CARES ACT Business Revolving Loan Fund): This fund continues to be utilized to help alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.

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  Black Business Investment Fund (BBIF):BBIF is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), private non-profit loan fund that specializes in providing loans and financial technical assistance services to Black, minority & underserved small businesses throughout Florida.

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  The Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program: This grant program supports and helps small businesses recover from a natural disaster. Businesses can apply here.

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• The Fearless Strivers Grant Contest, in partnership with Mastercard Inc., will be awarding 11 Black women-owned small business with grants, as well as one-on-one mentorship. The program will also be rolling out city-specific grant programs across the country. Click here to apply. 

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• The WellnessLiving #StandwithStudios Grant Program provides grants, marketing support and software to boutique wellness and fitness studios. In addition to funding, the grant includes a photo shoot and feature article in Fitness Business insider Magazine. Click here to apply.

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• The Entrepreneurial Spirit Fund by SIA Scotch, in partnership with business platform Hello Alice, which will give out 11 grants to small businesses in the food and beverage industry (that are not alcoholic beverage retail license holders) that are majority owned by a person of color. Click here to apply.

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• The Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund, sponsored by food delivery service DoorDash, in partnership with business platform Hello Alice, will be providing grants to restaurants with a physical location that are experiencing hardships due to a state or federally-declared natural disaster. Click here to apply.

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• America's Seed Fund is a decades-long grant program powered by the National Science Foundation. The National Science Foundation grant program, open to early-stage companies that need to prove their technology and find their market potential, has made about 3,400 awards to startups and small businesses since 2012, with 153 exits by those companies and $9.1 billion in private investment. Click here to learn more.

Additional COVID-19 Resources for Hollywood Businesses Are Available Here