The Business & Economic Development & Revitalization (BEDR) Corp. is a county-wide, non-profit “community development corporation.” It works to achieve change by creating new jobs and economic opportunities in Palm Beach County. BEDR works to bring together public and private resources to increase opportunities for revitalizing communities. The organization is an economic development and fair housing proponent.

Lia Gaines, Director
5725 Corporate Way, Suite 204
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Phone: 686-0064
Web: www.bedrcorporation.com

The TED Center trains and nurtures tenants, students and other businesses in the target area with the purpose to create job and business opportunities.The TED Center also provides affordable space, administrative and support services, telephone, fax and copy services, among other business related services. The TED Center is also equipped with a state-of-the-art Technology Resource Center for any graphic or video work that may be required (Websites, Business Cards, Commercials, etc..)

Seabron A. Smith, Executive Director
401 W. Atlantic Ave., Suite O9
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Phone: (561) 265-3790
Fax: (561) 265-0806
Web: www.tedcenter.org

The Center for Technology, Enterprise and Development, Inc. also hosts the Florida Women’s Business Center, which is geared towards providing support for women and small businesses who are interested in starting, growing or expanding their business. Clients can take advantage of numerous training/counseling opportunities provided the FWBC.

Jennifer Brin, Director, SBA/Florida Women's Business Center
401 W. Atlantic Ave., Suite O9
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Phone: (561) 265-3790
Fax: (561) 265-0806
Email: incubator@tedcenter.org
Web:   www.flwbc.org

Palm Beach Community College offers a wide range of business services that includes free one-to-one consultation by professional staff and volunteer business consultants in many areas of expertise, business seminars and workshops. International Trade and Development Program, Government Contracting Programs, Market Research Assistance, Referral Network and access to the various Business Resource Center.

Jacquelyn Keeley, Director
Palm Beach Community College
3000 Saint Lucie Avenue, Suite AD411
Boca Raton, FL 33431-6490
Phone: (561) 862-4726
Fax: (561) 862-4727
Email: SBDC-PBCC@FloridaSBDC.org
Web:    www.floridasbdc.org

SCORE is a not-for-profit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. It is a resource partner with the Small Business Administration (SBA). Retired executives donate their time and expertise as volunteer business counselors and mentors. Counseling is available at a local office and on-line.

John Hahn, Chairman
500 S. Australian Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 833-1672
Fax: (561) 833-1470
Email: trhahn@bellsouth.net
Web:   www.score.org

The Palm Beach County Resource Center (PBCRC) is a non-profit business consulting entity that was formed with the expressed mission of providing management and technical assistance to small and disadvantaged businesses. Client fees and in-kind contributions constitute a significant portion of the PBCRC's budget. The PBCRC's primary services are: Procurement Assistance, Management & Marketing Assistance, and Financial Services.

Paul Skyers, Executive Director
Palm Beach County Resource Center
2001 Broadway, Suite 301 C
Riviera Beach, FL 33404
Phone: 561-863-0895
Email: p_skyers@pbcrc.org
Web:   www.pbcrc.org

The U.S. Small Business Administration, South Florida District Office, serves 24 counties in South Florida including Palm Beach County. Whether you are starting a business or operating an established business, the U. S. Small Business Administration has a variety of programs to assist you. The South Florida District Office provides assistance to help you develop your business. They offer a variety of services in the areas of finance, management, technology and procurement. Additionally, the SBA’s website is a great source for valuable on line resources.

Tom Gallman, Senior Area Manager
U.S. Small Business Administration
505 South 2nd Street, Suite 225
Ft. Pierce, FL 34950
Web: www.sba.gov

Download the new SBA Resource Guide – go to: www.sbaguides.com and select Florida -South
 

The EDGE Center is a full service Business Incubation Program serving the Glades area of western Palm Beach County and the western communities of Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Loxahatchee and the Acreage. The services offered to qualified businesses are the following: business plan assistance, counseling and improvement seminars, loan application assistance, entrepreneurial support, and other business related services. (WPB area of TED; County Funded)

Suzanne Harper, Director
241 W Avenue A
Belle Glade, FL 33430
Phone: (561) 993-3343
Fax: (561) 258-7877
Email: edgeceo@edgecenter.info
Web:    www.edgecenter.info

EDC is a public/private partnership that provides strategic business development assistance to emerging science and technology-based companies in South Florida. EDC offers expertise in new product commercialization, business strategy, technology transfer, strategic alliances and preparing to raise capital funds. Assistance is provided to nearly 200 companies a year through EDC's mentoring program. EDC also manages the Technology Business Incubator located in the Florida Atlantic University Research & Development park in Boca Raton, and produces two conferences each year to promote emerging technologies and industry/academia collaboration. EDC's overall economic impact in South Florida is in excess of $264 million.

Jane Teague, Executive Director
3701 FAU Blvd., Suite 210
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: (561) 620-8494 x15
Fax: (561) 620-8493
Email: mailto:jteague@edc-tech.org
Web: www.edc-tech.org

EDO implements, manages and monitors the PBC Board of County Commissioners Economic Development Program in response to the need and demand for governmental assistance, incentive programs and coordination on economic issues, programs and projects in the County. It includes: County Grant Programs, State and County Tax Incentive Programs, Loan Programs and a Small Business Incubation Program.

Kevin Johns, Director
Governmental Center, 10th Floor
301 Olive Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-3624
Fax: (561) 355-6017
Web: www.co.palm-beach.fl.us

The BDB is a private, not-for-profit corporation that works to attract and retain business investment through corporate relocations and expansions. It provides services and information through paid memberships, such as marketing support and business networking; compilation of the most recent demographic data; capacity of existing utilities and infrastructure; and maintenance of a data-base of the existing commercial and industrial space, including terms and conditions. Additionally, the BDB maintains the most recent information relating to grants, loans and services available to business' interested in relocation or expanding in Palm Beach County.

Kelly Smallridge, President
Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc.
310 Evernia St.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 835-1008
Fax: (561) 835-1160
Web: www.bdb.org

The Downtown Development Authority was created in 1967 to analyze and impact Downtown's economic conditions; formulate long-range plans for improving the appeal and accessibility of Downtown facilities and promote their use; provide remedy to any deterioration of Downtown property values; to retain and attract businesses. The DDA is actively involved in planning, marketing, serving and developing our City's center. Principle services include Downtown retail recruitment and retention, community advocacy, planning, consensus building, marketing, trolley operations, promotions and events.

Melissa Wohlust, Executive Director
400 Clematis Street, Suite 202
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Phone: 561.833.8873
Fax: 561.833.5870
Web: www.westpalmbeachdda.com

HCD provides affordable housing, a better living environment, and economic opportunities for all county residents HCD administers programs that provide for the development or redevelopment of communities, including public facilities, infrastructure, public services and economic development assistance/incentives. These programs include the Community Development Block Grant Programs, Home Investment and Partnership Programs, Emergency Shelter Grants Program and Commission on Affordable Housing Program.

Edward Lowery, Director
3323 Belvedere Rd., Building 501
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Phone: (561) 233-3601
Fax: (561) 233-3651
Web: www.co.palm-beach.fl.us

The BBIC is a not-for-profit organization organized by the financial and business community in the county. It provides business loan guarantees, bonding, equity capital, job opportunities and other business services to qualified business owned by black citizens that cannot obtain financing through other sources. The BBIC also provides training and educational programs in cooperation with many other organizations.

John Howard, President
2001 Broadway, Suite 250
Riviera Beach, FL 33404
Phone: (561) 845-8055
Fax: (561) 863-0897
Web: www.pbcgov.com/edo/programs/pbc/bbic.htm

The BLF is a local not-for-profit financial lending institution whose main purpose is to loan monies to qualified small businesses in Palm Beach County. It provides loan to entrepreneurs, start-up and existing small businesses, especially those located in low to moderate income areas. The four levels of funding are Mini-micro, Micro, Small Business and Commercial Real Estate Loans. The BLF, as a Small Business Administration (SBA) lender, provides loan processing for the counties of Hendry, Indian River, Martin, Palm Beach and St. Lucie, Florida.

Laurence Davenport, Executive Director
2200 N. Florida Mango Rd., Suite 401
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Phone: (561) 478-2337
Fax: (561) 478-2339
Email: laurence@blfpbc.org
Web: www.blfpbc.org
 

BAC Funding Corporation is committed to the creation and long-range development of a successful entrepreneur and business class in South Florida to include Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. By working toward this goal, we create an economic balance that perpetuates wealth for all of South Florida. In particular, we will provide investment capital for the specific purpose of benefiting low-income persons and low-income communities of South Florida.

6600 NW 27th Avenue
Miami, FL 33417
Phone: (305) 693-3550
Fax: (305) 693-7450
Web: www.bacfundingcorp.com

The Office of Diversity in Business Practices shall promote the Diversity and Equitable Utilization in Business Policy 6.143 by encouraging all small and minority-owned businesses to participate in obtaining business opportunities with Palm Beach County. All small and minority-owned businesses will become aware of procurement opportunities in the areas of Professional Service, Non-Professional Services, Construction, and Commodities within Palm Beach County.

Dr. Otelia DuBose, Director
3300 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite A-106
West Palm Beach, FL 33406-5813
Phone: 561-434-8508
Web: www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us

The goal of the Small Business Division is to monitor and enforce compliance with the Small Business Program Municipal Code. The purpose of the Small Business Program is to serve the public interest by spurring economic development through encouraging small businesses to locate and remain in Palm Beach County, especially in the City of West Palm Beach. The Small Business Division does this by making sure that small businesses participate equitably in City contracts for goods, professional services, and construction services.

Tiffany McCray
Small Business Compliance Specialist
1045 Charlotte Ave
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 561-822-2100
Web: www.wpb.org/sbiz

The Office of Supplier Diversity’s (OSD) function is to improve business and economic opportunities for Florida’s women-owned and minority-owned businesses. OSD’s efforts toward this goal can be categorized into the following primary functions, Certification of Minority Business Enterprises, Advocacy and Outreach, and Matchmaking Activities.

Florida Department Management Services
4050 Esplanade Way, Suite 380
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0950
Telephone: (850) 487-0915
Fax: (850) 922-6852
Web: http://dms.myflorida.com/other_programs/office_of_supplier_diversity_osd/

The Office of Small Business Assistance is responsible for monitoring conditions affecting small businesses within the marketplace that can provide goods and services to Palm Beach County, thus creating an environment that encourages the growth and development of small businesses in Palm Beach County.

Hazel Oxendine, Director
50 S. Military Trail
Suite 209
West Palm Beach, FL 33415
Phone: 561-616-6840
Fax: 561-616-6850
Web: www.pbcgov.com/OSBA

Palm Beach International Airport
Noyte Brewington
1000 Turnage Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Phone: (561) 471-7420
Web: www.pbia.org
 

The SFWMD is committed to reaching out to small businesses, and to working with vendors and businesses of all sizes to streamline and simplify the process of doing business with the agency. Businesses and individuals are encouraged to become registered with the agency, and to attend the forums and workshops created for businesses to help them through what may seem to be a complex process.

Frank Hayden, Procurement Director
3301 Gun Club Road
MSC 6612
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Telephone: (561) 682-6446
Fax: (561) 682-5016
Web: www.sfwmd.gov

The Florida Regional Minority Business Council is a not-for-profit corporation established to foster the development and expansion of minority-owned businesses. We are committed to building mutually beneficial relationships between minority businesses and corporate and government buyers.

Beatrice Louissant, President
9499 N.E. 2nd Ave. #201
Miami, FL 33138
Phone: (305) 762-6151
Fax: (305) 762-6158
E-mail: frmbc@frmbc.org
Web: www.wfrmbc.org

FRMBC Broward Office
Broward Community College
225 East Las Olas Blvd., 6th Floor
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 201-7639
Fax: (954) 822-0679
E-mail: frmbc@frmbc.org

FRMBC Palm Beach Office
Office Depot Headquarter
2200 Old Germantown Road, Mail Code # IPS
Delray Beach, FL 33445
Phone: (561) 438-4726
Fax: (775) 822-0679
E-mail: frmbc@frmbc.org

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is dedicated to advancing the success of certified women's business enterprises, government agencies and corporate members in partnership with its affiliated women's business organizations.

Nancy Allen, President and CEO
11205 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 101
Pinecrest, FL, 33156
Tel:(305) 971-9473
Fax:(305) 971-7061
Web: www.womensbusiness.info

The Palm Beach County Workforce Development Board is charged with crafting and overseeing a workforce development strategy that is responsive to the needs and concerns of Palm Beach County employers and job seekers. It is also responsible for implementing welfare reform. The employer and job seeker services provided include job postings, job research assistance, skills, training, and assistance in filing financial requests, events and seminars.

Kathryn Schmidt, President and CEO
315 South Dixie Highway, Ste 102
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Telephone (561) 340-1061
Fax (561) 340-1062
www.pbcalliance.com