Technical Assistance
The City of Tamarac offers personalized, one-on-one technical assistance to businesses. We meet with you directly to assess your current needs, identify areas for improvement, and connect you with valuable resources and tools designed to help your business thrive.
Whether you’re seeking opportunities for education, marketing, financial capital, or collaboration, our office is here to understand your needs and connect you with the right resources. Contact us today to schedule your personalized technical assistance visit and take the next step toward growing your business.
SCORE: Small Business Success Starts Here
SCORE can help you start, grow or successfully exit a business. Small business owners who receive three or more hours of mentoring report higher revenues and increased growth.
SCORE offers free mentoring and coaching services to small businesses, providing expert guidance from experienced professionals. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow, SCORE’s mentors help with business strategy, marketing, financial planning, and more, offering personalized advice to help your business succeed.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Contact SCORE today to connect with a mentor who can guide you every step of the way!
Entrepreneurship
Urban League of Broward County – Entrepreneurship Center
The Entrepreneurship Center exists to cultivate opportunities to create, sustain and grow businesses in South Florida, particularly in historically disenfranchised communities. South Florida is rich with opportunities to start or grow a business. That’s why we couldn’t be happier to offer the Urban League of Broward County’s Small Business Loan Fund, allowing us to offer end-to-end business development services, including capital. We combine elements of a business accelerator and business incubator to deliver three packaged solutions.
Launch Package: “My business is a startup or needs more information before starting.”
Many of our launch package clients have not yet started their businesses or are still within the first two years of operations. As such, we structure our services to support them like a business incubator. This means that we primarily provide services to help your business clarify its mission and develop a detailed and actionable business plan.
Solutions Package: “My business is operating and needs help with a business challenge.”
Running a business can be challenging. The Entrepreneurship Center is here to help your business meet those challenges with our Solutions Package. Whether sales have stopped growing or you simply feel that your business’ operations could be more efficient, our Solutions Package was designed to help your business examine how to strengthen your business model to overcome any challenge. Clients interested in our Solutions Package typically have been operating for more than two (2) years.
Innovation Package: “My business needs help pursuing a growth opportunity.”
Thinking outside the box is often—but not always—necessary to be successful in business. Our Innovation Package is designed to help clients conduct a comprehensive review of potential growth opportunities, including, but not limited to strategic alliances, new product development, expansion into international markets, mergers & acquisitions and other strategic growth opportunities. Clients needing this service package typically have more than two (2) years of operations AND are profitable.
Find out more about our counseling or capital solutions for your business. Call and inquire today! A limited number of slots are available.
Broward College Entrepreneurship Experience (BCEX) – Boot Camp & Accelerator
At Broward College, we are dedicated to fostering innovation and nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset across all levels of our programs and initiatives. Through our Broward UP Promise Neighborhoods, we extend this commitment by providing underserved communities with access to educational resources, entrepreneurial training, and skill development. Our goal is to empower individuals with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in today’s fast-evolving economy, promoting economic mobility and creating opportunities for growth, both for individuals and the broader community. Through these efforts, we aim to cultivate a thriving ecosystem of innovation that helps students, entrepreneurs, and local businesses unlock their full potential.
Small Business Boot Camp (January 9th – February 6, 2025)
Broward College is launching its BCEx 5-Week Virtual Bootcamp 2025, starting on January 9th at 5 PM. This bootcamp is designed for entrepreneurs who want to validate their business ideas by interviewing potential customers, identifying challenges and opportunities, finding product-market fit, and developing their own business model. The program also serves as preparation for the more advanced BCEx Accelerator, an in-depth entrepreneurship program. The bootcamp is open to students in specific prosperity zone zip codes, including 33309 and 33319.
Small Business Loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps small businesses get funding by setting guidelines for loans and reducing lender risk. These SBA-backed loans make it easier for small businesses to get the funding they need.
7(a) Loans: SBA’s primary program for providing long-term financing for a variety of purposes. 7(a) loans are delivered by SBA 7(a) lenders.
504 Loans: Long-term, fixed-rate financing available through mission-oriented, community-based SBA Certified Development Companies.
Micro Loans: Loans of $50,000 or less to help businesses and certain non-profit childcare centers. Microloans are provided by intermediary lenders.
Benefits of SBA-guaranteed loans:
- Competitive terms: SBA-guaranteed loans generally have rates and fees that are comparable to non-guaranteed loans.
- Counseling and education: Some loans come with continued support to help you start and run your business.
- Unique benefits: Lower down payments, flexible overhead requirements, and no collateral needed for some loans.
Urban League Small Business Loan Fund:
- Loan Size: $10,000 to $250,000
- Use of Proceeds: Working capital, machinery, equipment purchases or technology upgrades, Building expansions and improvements, Leasehold improvements, Real estate acquisition & construction, Refinance predatory small business loans.
- Who Qualifies: Women and minority business owners, Low-to-moderate income individuals earning at or below 80% of median income, Self-employed persons,
Businesses with twenty-five (25) or fewer employees
J.R. McFarling
Small Business Development Officer
(954) 625-2594
jmcfarling@ulbcfl.org
Small Business Grants
The City of Tamarac’s Economic Development and Redevelopment Office has compiled a list of small business grants to help local entrepreneurs access additional funding opportunities.
These grants are offered by various organizations and agencies, and while our office provides this list, it does not manage eligibility requirements, deadlines, or application processes. We encourage businesses to explore these opportunities and apply directly through the respective organizations.
Broward County’s Small Business Micro-Grant Pilot Program:
The Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) administers a Small Business Micro-Grant Pilot Program to provide working capital for small businesses located within Broward County. The program is intended to assist the smallest of Broward businesses that need financial assistance.
The application process is online and qualified applications will be reviewed by OESBD. Qualifying applicants can apply for $2,500 in reimbursable expenses for their small business for eligible expenses paid within 60 days prior to their application date.
Economic and Small Business Development Small Business Micro-Grant
Verizon’s Digital Ready program gives business owners the opportunity to access free courses and educational materials, as well as apply for grant funding. To be eligible for a $10,000 small-business grant, entrepreneurs must register through the Verizon website and complete at least two of the following: courses, live coaching or community events.
The annual Amazon Small Business Grant program offers free grants to small businesses that have an Amazon Business account and $1 million or less in annual revenue. The program offers grants to 15 businesses, ranging in amounts from $15,000 to $25,000.
In 2024, FedEx’s annual grant competition awarded one $50,000 grand prize and nine additional $20,000 grants. Winners were announced in May. The contest is for U.S.-based, for-profit small businesses with fewer than 99 employees. You must also have a valid FedEx business shipping account number and currently ship with FedEx to apply. If you’re interested in next year’s competition, you can sign up on the FedEx website to be notified when applications open.
The Venmo Small Business Grant program awards 20 eligible entrepreneurs with $10,000 grants for their small businesses. It also offers public promotion on the Venmo website and social media accounts, as well as mentorship from industry leaders.
To qualify, you must have a U.S. Venmo account and a valid business profile on Venmo in good standing. You also must have less than $50,000 in annual sales and 10 employees or fewer.
The Lenovo Evolve Small initiative is a program designed to support small businesses throughout the U.S. and Canada by offering grants and technology donations. This year’s program provided six businesses with $15,000, a $10,000 technology package and specialized mentorship from CWC Coaching and Therapy. You can sign up on the Lenovo website to receive notifications about upcoming Evolve Small opportunities.
Comcast Rise: Comcast Rise is a small-business grant program that focuses on promoting business growth, particularly in the area of technology. The program awards small businesses with a $5,000 grant, business consultation services, education resources, creative production, media schedules and technology makeovers.
In 2024, Comcast Rise recognized 500 recipients across five cities.
The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge offers a grand prize grant of $25,000 to one U.S. small business with nine or fewer full-time employees. The winning company will also receive a feature in Inc. Magazine. Two additional finalists will be awarded $5,000 each. Winners for the 2024 application cycle were announced in May.
Bizee’s Fresh Start Business Grant (previously known as the Incfile Fresh Start grant) offers $2,500 to help new entrepreneurs cover startup costs. The winning business owner will also receive free formation services in their state, free registered agent services for a year and a free tax consultation from Bizee. To qualify, you must be planning to start a new business or grow an existing business. Bizee also offers a Young Entrepreneur Grant for students interested in starting their own businesses. The next cycle will be held in 2024.
Hello Alice partners with a variety of companies, such as Progressive and DoorDash, to offer different grants for small businesses, including startups. You can create an account to receive notifications about new opportunities and apply for the grants that are relevant to your business.
WomensNet offers the $10,000 monthly Amber Grant, the $10,000 monthly startup grant and awards three $25,000 grants on an annual basis. The foundation also gives additional free funding throughout the year. To qualify for any of the grants offered by WomensNet, businesses only have to fill out a single application. Startups and existing women-owned businesses are eligible.
Restaurants that have experienced a natural disaster may be able to get a small-business recovery grant from the DoorDash Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund. This program offers $10,000 business grants to brick-and-mortar restaurants that have been impacted by a federally or state-declared disaster, such as wildfire, hurricane or earthquake.
To qualify, you’ll also need to have three restaurant locations or fewer, 50 or fewer employees, been in business for at least six months and made $3 million or less per location in the last year. Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis, but they must be submitted within 12 months of the declared disaster. Recipients will be notified within 30 days after the application period closes. You can apply for the latest cycle of funding until Dec. 2, 2024.
The Small Business Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Program is a two-part initiative that strives to help businesses prepare for and recover from unexpected disasters. To participate in the program, you must complete a preparedness checklist (which includes an emergency action plan), register in the R4R database — and then, in the event of a disaster, you can apply for grant eligibility. Emergency relief grants are issued in amounts of $5,000 and you must be able to show that you have incurred disaster-related damages or losses that equal or exceed that amount. You’ll also need to have fewer than 500 employees, among other requirements, to qualify for this small business hardship grant.
The Binc Foundation awards small-business hardship grants to bookstore owners, booksellers and comic store owners who have unforeseen emergency financial needs. To qualify, you must be located in the U.S. or one of its territories and have experienced a qualifying event, such as a natural disaster, man-made disaster, serious medical expense or domestic violence, among others. You can fill out an inquiry form on the Binc Foundation website at any time to connect with the organization and apply for emergency assistance.
IFundWomen: IFundWomen is a grant marketplace that specializes in funding and coaching for women-owned businesses. You can submit one application and when IFundWomen adds a grant from an enterprise partner, it will match the partner’s grant criteria to applications within the database.
If your business is a match, you’ll receive a notification and invitation to apply. Previous grant partners have included companies like Visa, Neutrogena and American Express.
HerRise Microgrant: HerRise Microgrants are offered by the Yva Jourdan Foundation, the nonprofit arm of HerSuiteSpot, an organization that provides business coaching and training to women of color entrepreneurs. $1,000 grants are awarded each month, and applications are accepted monthly. To be eligible, your business must be at least 51% woman of color owned, and you must have less than $1 million in gross revenue.
Galaxy Grant: This grant program, which is presented by Hidden Star, a nonprofit organization, is open to women and minority small business owners. Winners can receive a grant of $2,750. The application deadline is Sept. 30, 2024.
Giving Joy Grants: Women over the age of 18 are eligible to apply for a grant from Giving Joy. Winners will receive microgrants between $250 and $500, which can be put toward launching a business or nonprofit, or expanding an existing business or charity organization. There are two application windows for this year: The first runs from Jan. 1 – April 30 and the second from June 1 – Sept. 30, 2024.
EmpowHER Grants: Female small-business owners who are at least 22 years old may be eligible for an EmpowHER grant from Boundless Futures Foundation. Your business must have been established within the last three years to be eligible. Grant funding is awarded as a reimbursement of up to $25,000 for business-related expenses. Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis; the next deadline is Sept. 2024.
Her Village Grant: Another program offered by the Boundless Futures Foundation, Her Village Grant it is open to nonprofits that support female entrepreneurs. Grant awards range from $5,000 to $30,000. The current application window runs from July to September 2024.
Brown Girl Jane x Shea Moisture Grant: Presented by Shea Moisture and Brown Girl Jane, a wellness and beauty brand, this grant is open to Black and women-owned beauty or wellness businesses. Grants between $10,000 and $25,000 are awarded. Applications for the next cycle will open in fall 2024.
Publish Her Business Impact Grant: Businesses that are 100% owned by women of color are eligible to apply for this program, which is a partnership between Publish Her — an independent publisher — and Bank Cherokee. To be eligible, your business must have been established for at least one year and generate at least $50,000 in revenue. One business will win a $5,000 grant. The application window for the 2024 cycle has not yet been announced.
Business Templates
The City of Tamarac’s Economic Development and Redevelopment Office, in partnership with SCORE, provides a comprehensive collection of easy-to-use templates for business planning, finance, sales, marketing, and management.
These valuable resources are designed to guide entrepreneurs through the critical steps of launching a new business or expanding an existing one.
Whether you are just starting out or looking to grow, these templates will help you organize your goals, streamline operations, and build a solid foundation for long-term success. By leveraging these tools, you can create a clear roadmap to ensure your business reaches its full potential.
Need help?
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