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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #2599 |
| Funding for Florida�s Four Women�s Business Centers |
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| Requester: |
Sandy Bartow, Executive Director |
Organization: |
Jacksonville Women�s Business Center (Representing three Florida Centers) |
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| Project Title: |
Funding for Florida�s Four Women�s Business Centers |
Date Submitted |
1/4/2008 2:58:37 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Wise |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The four (4) Women�s Business Centers (WBCs) serve the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurship throughout thirty-six (36) counties across the State of Florida. Since 2004, three (3) of the WBCs have served over 8,000 women-owned businesses. The fourth WBC was started this year in Melbourne because of the growing need for additional resources and assistance for Florida�s women entrepreneurs.
Services include assistance in business start-up, technical training, counseling, mentoring and sustainability with a focus on reaching out to the socially and economically disadvantaged areas of the State thus increasing job opportunities and a better quality of life for Floridians across the State. �There are an estimated 734,528 women-owned firms in Florida comprising 40% of all privately held firms in Florida with sales of $124 billion and employing 785,455 people. Among the 50 states and Washington, DC, Florida ranks 4th in the number of privately-held, majority (51% or more) women-owned firms in 2006, 3rd in employment and 3rd in sales. Overall, Florida ranks 1st among the states.�1 (Source: 2006, Center for Women�s Business Research). |
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| Recipient: |
Jacksonville Women�s Business Center (Representing three Flo |
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Contact: |
Sandy Bartow |
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5000-3 Norwood Avenue |
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Contact Phone: |
(904) 624-1100 |
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Jacksonville 32208 |
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Contact email: |
Sandy.bartow@myjaxchamber.com |
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| Counties: |
Baker, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Volusia |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| With additional State funding, the WBCs will expand services by providing scholarships for socially and economically disadvantaged women to participate in programs the WBCs offer across the State; additional training on business plan development, finance resources, procurement, marketing and computer skills; provide broader marketing specifically focused on women minorities in disadvantaged areas across the State and; continue services to provide the level of services to clients at little or no cost. |
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Each WBC closely measures outcomes through number of women businesses served, classes offered, number of new businesses created, jobs created and retained. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$300,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$1,095,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Private, Federal |
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Cash Amount |
$1,057,500 |
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In-kind Amount |
$250,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Yes |
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Amount: |
$300,000 |
To Fund: |
Operations |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
US Small Business Administration RFP as a result of the Women's Ownership Act of 1988 & WBC Act 1999 |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Duval County Legislative Delegation |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
