Nearly 200 area business leaders participate in annual JAXPORT Small Business Appreciation Day
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- Nearly 200 area business leaders participate in annual JAXPORT Small Business Appreciation Day
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Nearly 200 Northeast Florida business leaders participated in JAXPORT’s second annual Small and Emerging Business Appreciation Day. The daylong seminar was held Tuesday at JAXPORT’s Cruise Terminal and connected area small businesses with valuable training and resources.
The event included a procurement directors’ panel, professional coaching session to help businesses create their own 90-second business pitch, and speed networking. Marketing experts were also on hand to share strategies for branding a business on a budget.
“Look at the energy in this room,” said Jacksonville City Councilman and small business advocate Terrance Freeman, the event’s keynote speaker. “Events like this bring folks together to learn about the resources we have at the city that can help small and emerging businesses grow and turn into one of these Fortune 500 companies that we’re recruiting to rent space downtown.”
“It’s about all of us growing and succeeding together,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. “We are committed to doing our part to ensure that small businesses are included in all of the opportunities that our thriving seaport creates.”
“The networking alone is invaluable,” said Kim Scott, an attendee whose small business, The Morgan Company Promotional Advertising, provided promotional materials for the event. “For us, it all started with this event last year— and since then we’ve worked hard to establish relationships with the different agencies. This event really helped us understand that the city is on our side and they want to do business with us.”
Business development experts from the City of Jacksonville, Florida Small Business Development Council, and other area public agencies were on site offering valuable insights and advice.
JAXPORT promotes equal access to all procurement contracts. During the past four years, JAXPORT payments for work by certified Jacksonville Small and Emerging Businesses (JSEB) have topped $28 million.
If you’re a small business owner, connect with Brian Williams, JAXPORT SEB Programs Coordinator, by email or at (904) 357-3003.