Minority business ownership is on the rise and there are a number of resources to help. Scroll down to find specific resources for African American, women, Hispanic, Native American and businesses owned by legal citizens.

Pinellas County Purchasing Department

State of Florida Purchasing Department  Businesses may register with Pinellas County government for an opportunity to bid on county contracts. Go to www.pinellascounty.org/purchase/default.htm and Contact Karol Crain at 727-464-3795 for information.

State of Florida – Minority Business Certification  Apply with the State of Florida’s Office of Supplier Diversity to be certified as a minority business for the purpose of bidding on state and local government contracts. Go to: http://dms.myflorida.com. Click on Other Programs and then Office of Supplier Diversity.

Enterprise Florida - Office of Minority Business Development  Enterprise Florida is the principal economic development organization for the State of Florida. Its mission is to increase economic opportunities for all Floridians, by supporting the creation of quality jobs, a well-trained workforce and globally competitive businesses.      www.eflorida.com

Federal 8(a) Business Development Program   The SBA's 8(a) business development program was created to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market. The applicant firm must be a small business, must be unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who are of good character and citizens of the United States, and must demonstrate potential for success. Application Instructions Here! Appeal Instructions Here! Contact the local SBA district office in Miami at 100 S. Biscayne Blvd - 7th Floor, Miami, FL 33131, (305)536-5521. The online Application form can be found Here!

Office of Minority Business Development

390 N. Orange Ave., Suite 1300

Orlando, FL 32801

(407) 316-4600

This organization represents over 3,500 corporations, including most Fortune 500 firms who use ethnic minority suppliers of products and services. Several links are offered including the Business Consortium Fund which provides financing for minority owned companies with a contract or purchase order.African American Business Resources

Blackvoices.com

NetNoir.com  NetNoir is a premier African American websites providing a wide range of information important to exiting business owners as well as the hopeful entrepreneur.

Afro America  An African American oriented site that provides the new entrepreneur with resource information needed to launch a business.

The Black Collegian Online

National Alliance of Market Developers

Network Journal 

USAfrica OnlineWorkshop In Business Opportunities 

Quepasa.com

Florida Trend:

SBA’s Women’s Business CenterHYPERLINK "http://www.nawbo.org/"National Foundation for Women Owned BusinessesHYPERLINK "http://www.medcorp-tb.org/freditor/editor/www.hbiftampa.org/"Hispanic Business Initiative FundHYPERLINK "http://www.blackplanet.com/"BlackPlanet.comHYPERLINK "http://www.blackenterprise.com/"Black Enterprise.com

A Business Magazine covering Florida with a special section for women’s issues.

Is a searchable website that provides resource information to the Hispanic community.

Women’s Business Resources  This association is a good source of information for both women business owners and potential owners.

A listing of links to SBA services specifically designed to help minority women.

Hispanic Business Resources

HBIF provides bilingual technical assistance to the Hispanic business community. Loan preparation and alternative financing are listed among the services provided.

Other Top Web Sites for African Americans:

A searchable website tailored to the African American community that provides a wide range of information including entrepreneur business assistance, loan resources and/ or links.

National Minority Supplier Development Council: 

The Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporations (TBBBIC)Provides loans, loan guarantees, bonding, trade and technical assistance to African American owned Businesses in Florida.

2105 N. Nebraska Ave.

Tampa, FL 33602

Phone: (813) 274-7924

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