SBA, Lafayette Chamber partner for event today at Lafayette County Library.
The deadline for FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster assistance has passed, but SBA officials are still looking to assist following Hurricane Idalia.
The SBA is hosting a pair of small business workshops, one in Mayo and one in Perry, while officials will also be present Friday in Hamilton County.
The Lafayette County workshop, which is being presented in partnership with the Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, the University of North Florida Small Business Development Center and CareerSource North Florida, will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. today at the Lafayette County Public Library, 120 NE Crawford Street in Mayo.
During the workshop, presenters from the SBDC, CareerSource and SBA will offer free business advice, including how to start or expand a small business, financial management, marketing, hiring and federal contracting among other topics.
“It’s a great service that’s funded partially by the SBA,” Brian Beard, an SBA spokesperson, said in a Lafayette County Commission meeting in November.
At that same meeting, Lynne Buchanan with the Lafayette Chamber added that the workshop is not just for new businesses, but any business owners in Lafayette County that may be interested in learning more about what the SBDC can offer, noting all the services are free.
For instance, Buchanan said a number of the businesses in Mayo struggle with the lack of downtown parking. During discussions with SBA and SBDC, one service they can help with is how to market around that, whether it is an increased online presence or better advertising where parking is available, like in back of the buildings.
“Work around your challenges so you can grow your business and be successful,” Buchanan said on Nov. 14. “And that’s our goal as the Chamber.”
An additional workshop will be held Dec. 7 at the Taylor County Chamber of Commerce, 428 N. Jefferson Street in Perry, also from 5-6:30 p.m.
Area residents can also meet with SBA officials from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday at the Hamilton County Courthouse Annex, 1153 NW U.S. Highway 41 in Jasper. That opportunity for in-person assistance can include checking on the status of a SBA disaster loan application, or asking questions.
The deadline to apply for a disaster loan through the SBA was Wednesday. That was also the final day to apply for FEMA assistance due to the hurricane.