Small Business Assistance

The Office of Economic Development assists small business owners with financing through local, state and federal programs. It also guides businesses in using innovative financing alternatives.  In addition to the Office of Economic Development, there are many partner resources within Jacksonville to assist small businesses. The following is a listing of those partners. Also, visit the business resources website for information on incentives, workforce training and financing programs. Click on the links below to find assistance in developing your small business.

JSEB Access to Capital
The JSEB Access to Capital Program assists Jacksonville Small and Emerging Businesses (JSEB) certified by the City of Jacksonville to obtain short term working capital loans to support the delivery of goods and services to the City of Jacksonville and its various Authorities and Agencies. For more information visit www.coj.net/accesstocapital.

Technical Assistance Providers

• Better Business Bureau of Northeast Florida - Provides reliability reports on local and national companies for use in selecting ethical business partners. Also provides dispute-resolution services to resolve conflict between a business and customer.   
• Jacksonville Women's Business Center - Training, mentoring, consulting, networking women-owned businesses in all stages of development. 
•  Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) - Assists in securing contracts with local, state and federal government. Provides counseling free of charge to any Florida firm, but a minimal fee may be charged for special services or workshops, funded through the Department of Defense and the JAX Chamber.   
• SCORE - Offers confidential, one-on-one counseling by one of 40 local volunteers dedicated to helping to start and grow small businesses. Practical advice offered by retired business owners or managers with expertise in various industries.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of North Florida (UNF) - Sponsors workshops on business start-up basics, a HELP desk and a business library for potential business owners. Certified business analysts meet with business owners at no charge to provide a confidential sounding board and can connect clients with helpful resources, provides management assistance with financial analysis, market analysis, business planning, management audits and more.
•  Small Business Resource Network - Helps small businesses achieve greater success by referring them to local and qualified accountants, attorneys, lenders, insurance professionals or business consultants who provide free information.   
• U.S. Small Business Administration - Provides new and established business owners with financial management, technical and procurement assistance. The SBA is a federal agency established to aid, counsel and assist and protect the interest of small business and strengthen the overall economy of the nation.
• Women Business Owners of North Florida - Provides support to women in all stages of business ownership. Hosts five to six monthly meetings for networking and business education. Does not directly provide any loans, grants, economic assistance or capital investment. Sponsor of Woman Business Owner of the Year awards program.

• Florida Business Development Corporation - Assists healthy, growing small businesses, secures long-term, below market, fixed-rate financing for acquisition of fixed assets. Also provides financial assistance and advisory services to companies considering the possibility of selling their business or contemplating an acquisition or merger. ​
• Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFCFC) - A statewide, non-profit certified development company that promotes economic development and job creation by working with the SBA and private-sector lenders to provide available and affordable financing to small businesses. FFCFC lends under the SBA 504 Loan Program, the state of Florida Recycling Loan Program and other small business assistance programs. 
• U.S. Small Business Administration - Provides new and established business owners with financial management, technical and procurement assistance. The SBA is a federal agency established to aid, counsel and assist and protect the interest of small business and strengthen the overall economy of the nation. 

• Beaver Street Enterprise Center - The core-city business incubator is a 25,000 square foot professional office facility offering modern workplace amenities for startup and existing business owners. The facility provides technical assistance, counseling, and mentoring to its tenants. 
• Small Business Workshops at the JAX Chamber's Small Business Center - Several workshops offered every month, providing access to specific topics related to every stage of running a business.​
• Small Business Workshops at the Small Business Development Center at UNF - Offers several workshops on business start-up basics.
• UNF Small Business Blog - From the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida. Provides management assistance and training to any prospective or existing small-business owner in North Florida. 

• CareerSource - CareerSource provides recruiting assistance, labor market research and training partnerships. No-cost electronic job postings and career events hosted throughout the region.