Title:
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Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Seminole County / UCFRF National Entrepreneur Center Partnership Agreement in the amount of $45,000 for the purpose of providing small businesses and entrepreneurs access to professional business assistance, quality educational programming, and practical industry expertise in Seminole County. Countywide (Guilherme Cunha, Economic Development & Tourism Administrator)
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Division:
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Office of Economic Development and Tourism - Economic Development
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Authorized By:
Guilherme Cunha, Economic Development & Tourism Administrator
Contact/Phone Number:
Gui Cunha/407-665-2901
Background:
The University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. (UCFRF), through the National Entrepreneur Center, plays a pivotal role in fostering economic growth and development within Seminole County through its diverse programs and initiatives.
The National Entrepreneur Center is dedicated to the development, growth, and success of small businesses in Central Florida. The National Entrepreneur Center assists entrepreneurs and small businesses in receiving support and services that enable them to develop a strong Central Florida business community.
The purpose of this Agreement is to encourage job growth and economic development in Seminole County. A variety of economic development performance standards are outlined in the Agreement, all related to the goal of supporting Seminole County with diversification and expansion of the local economy.
Performance standards include:
• Maintaining and expanding the BizLink platform to support the needs of local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Seminole County;
• Providing educational workshops for small business owners and entrepreneurs in Seminole County covering topics to include how to start a business, business model canvases, and international trade;
• Providing one-on-one, in-person, coaching and mentoring sessions to Seminole County small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs on small business creation and growth, business plans, and internationalization;
• Providing an annual report that shall include, but not be limited to, recommendations relative to the continuing development and operation of the National Entrepreneur Center, main export markets, and products or services from Seminole County;
• Providing bi-annual reports which shall include, but not be limited to, key performance indicators (KPIs), including the number of BizLink users in Seminole County, number of workshops delivered in Seminole County including location with topic and number of participants, number of one-on-one in-person coaching or mentoring sessions with name, industry, and jurisdiction of business, providing information pertinent to any other performance indicators;
• Providing monthly web conferences with the Economic Development Team sharing information on some of the above-mentioned KPIs; and
• Upon request by the County, provide a verbal report to the Board of County Commissioners on the Central Florida International Trade Office (CFITO) International Trade Report.
The funding request is $45,000 for FY2024/25. This amount has been budgeted within the County's Economic Development budget.
Requested Action:
Staff requests the Board approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Seminole County / UCFRF National Entrepreneur Center Partnership Agreement in the amount of $45,000 for the purpose of providing small businesses and entrepreneurs access to professional business assistance, quality educational programming, and practical industry expertise in Seminole County.