Small business development center at FIU earns top national award

The Florida Small Business Development Center (FSBDC) at FIU Business has won the Small Business Development Center for Excellence and Innovation Center Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The award recognizes the accomplishments of one center each year.

The FSDBC at FIU Business will be honored at a ceremony next month in Washington, D.C. The event will be held during National Small Business Week, when the SBA recognizes centers dedicated to the success of small businesses and celebrates their contributions to the economy. According to SBA data, small businesses make up for about 50% of the workforce in the U.S.

The FSBDC at FIU Business comprises 20 highly knowledgeable business consultants who offer assistance with access to capital, investment business plans, financial management, government contracting, market analysis and more.

“This award is a great honor that represents the hard work of our team and the FSBDC at FIU Business consultants, as well as their dedication to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Miami and South Florida,” said William Hardin, dean of FIU Business. “They are an asset committed to helping people succeed, creating jobs and creating economic opportunities.”

The FSBDC at FIU Business was recognized as the Florida SBDC Network Center of the Year for 2022, putting it in line to compete for the national award this year. Leading up to the state award was the center’s impact in 2021, where 2,051 businesses were assisted with 20,660 consulting hours.

That year:

• 114 businesses launched
• $117 million in capital secured
• $33.3 million in government contracts secured
• $154.1 million in increased revenues
• 429 jobs created
• 5,144 jobs retained

“We have one of the best jobs in Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys. The FSBDC team gets to help local business owners start, grow and realize their entrepreneurial dreams,” said Brian Van Hook, regional director of the FSBDC at FIU Business. “For that reason, I thank the SBA for this national recognition of our team’s record levels of assistance and results provided to our clients in recent years.”

The center began offering services in Miami-Dade County in 2014 and expanded to Monroe County in October 2018. In 2021, the center also secured a highly competitive SBA Community Navigator grant for Miami-Dade County on behalf of the center and six other community organizations.