The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, the state’s principal provider of small business assistance, and First Capital Finance/Florida First Capital (FCF/FFC) have renewed their partnership to help small businesses access the capital they need to grow and create jobs.

The Florida SBDC Network and FCF/FFC have nourished a longstanding partnership. Through this MOU, the Florida SBDC Network and FCF/FFC will continue to work in conjunction to bridge the gap and help small businesses obtain the necessary financing they need to grow and expand.

FCF/FFC is a nonprofit certified development company, created by the State of Florida to promote economic development and job creation by small businesses. FCF/FFC provides SBA 504 financing and other state and federal loan programs to eligible small businesses for the purchase of commercial property, heavy machinery, equipment, and more. With the renewal of this partnership, FCF/FFC will continue to support small business owners directly by referring them to SBDC training and consulting services.

“Through four decades of serving small businesses in Florida, the state SBDC Network is one of our most important and long-standing partnerships,” said FCF/FFC President and CEO Todd Kocourek. “This agreement reflects our organizations’ complementary missions, and paves the way for even more small businesses success.”

The Florida SBDC Network provides no-cost consulting, training, and research to help small businesses launch, grow and thrive. As part of its service offering, the network helps small businesses understand their financials, assess financing options, develop or refine a quality business plan, and become more bankable. The Florida SBDC Network will provide technical assistance to clients with SBA 504 Loan program application packages.

“We are thrilled to be able to continue our partnership with First Capital Finance/Florida First Capital,” said Greg Britton, state director of the Florida SBDC Network. “We know access to capital continues to be one of the top needs of small businesses in our state. Through our partnership, we will work together to help more small businesses access the resources they need to grow and achieve their business goals.”

The MOU was signed by Greg Britton, state director of the Florida SBDC Network, and Mark Kruse, Executive Vice President of FCF/FFC, during the Florida SBDC Network’s annual Small Business Success Summit in August.

About First Capital Finance/Florida First Capital: First Capital Finance/Florida First Capital (FCF/FFC) is a non-profit certified development company promoting economic development and job creation. Under the SBA 504 Loan Program, FCF/FFC works with private-sector lenders to provide eligible small business owners in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia with below-market, fixed interest rate long-term financing to buy or build commercial property and/or purchase fixed heavy duty machinery and equipment. FCF/FFC also lends under the Rebuild Florida Business Loan Fund as well as the Florida Recycling Loan Program and other small business assistance programs.

About the Florida SBDC Network: For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy. In 2022, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 117,750 hours of consulting to 14,758 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $446 million in capital, $445 million in government contracting, impacting 23,515 jobs, increasing sales by over $4.5 billion, and creating 825 businesses. With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

Florida SBDC Network, First Capital Finance/Florida First Capital Reaffirm Partnership