The U.S. Small Business Administration’s South Florida District is seeking 17 Miami-Dade small business owners for its SBA Emerging Leaders program that will give them a three-year, tailored strategic growth plan for their businesses.
For a second year, Miami-Dade County was selected to be part of SBA’s Emerging Leaders initiative, a federal training initiative that focuses on business executives poised for growth in historically challenged communities, said SBA South Florida District Director Francisco "Pancho" Marrero. “This initiative will provide executives from 17 Miami-Dade businesses with the organizational framework, resource network, and motivation required to build sustainable businesses and promote the economic development within the county,” he said.
While the executive-level course is free for businesses accepted into the program, executives must commit to about 100 hours of classroom and out-of-classroom work. The first class meets April 14 and will meet on alternating Tuesday evenings through October.
This will be the second program offered. Moises Montanez, owner of Miami’s Alta Home Remodeling, was among the 13 graduates from the inaugural Emerging Leaders Class. He is in the process of remodeling his general contracting business with the knowledge he gained from the class.
For the next class, SBA is again partnering with the Small Business Development Center at Florida International University. Classes will be at FIU Downtown on Brickell Center at 1101 Brickell Ave. in Miami. The curriculum called the StreetWise Steps to Small Business Growth includes instruction on financials, marketing and sales, resources (human resources, accessing capital and government contracting); and strategic growth planning.
Business leaders interested in the program should be the owner or principal in the small business that has annual revenues of at least $400,000; been in business for at least 3 years; and have at least one employee other than himself.
The application deadline is March 20. The SBA South Florida district will make the final selection from the qualified applicants, said Marrero.
Register at http://www.interise.org/sbaemergingleaders.
More information about the program:
Posted Feb. 6, 2015