The challenges facing urban entrepreneurs and the best ways to overcome them were among the discussion topics at the inaugural Urban Entrepreneur Roundtable held recently at Orlando City Hall.<\/p>\n
Dozens of entrepreneurs attended the free event to learn about business growth and challenges, government contracts, small business loan opportunities, accelerating startups, sustainable community programs and additional resources available on the local, state and federal levels. Carol Clark, with Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs’ Office of Public Engagement and African-American Affairs, attended the event.<\/p>\n
Entrepreneurs had the opportunity to interact with two panels: Unleashing Ideas: Barriers and Challenges for Urban Entrepreneurs and Better Together and the Public-Private Partnerships to Accelerate Urban Entrepreneurship and Startups<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Orlando and Orange County grows \u2013 particularly as we witness the incredible changes coming to our downtown core \u2013 we continue to be a community that values our history and traditions,\u201d Clark said. \u201cWe are diverse, we are inclusive and we are focused on growing and nurturing our wonderfully unique entrepreneurial core.\u201d<\/p>\n The Urban Entrepreneur Roundtable to Educate, Enlighten and Empower Entrepreneurs<\/em> was presented by the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida (AACCCF) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Cassius Butts, regional administrator, served as moderator.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a White House appointed official, one of the most significant lessons I have learned for small business is that collaboration is the key to success,\u201d Butts said.<\/p>\n Bringing federal and local viewpoints together to educate small business owners about access to funding, advocacy and training opportunities is a \u201cwin-win opportunity,\u201d said John Davis, president of the AACCCF.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the exact type of event necessary to be on the path to success,\u201d Davis said. \u201cIt was also exciting to see entrepreneurs have the opportunity to network, share stories and ask questions.\u201d<\/p>\n Orange County remains committed to supporting minority entrepreneurs through the Black Business Investment Fund (BBIF). In 2013, the Board of County Commissioners allocated $135,724 to BBIF, a Community Development Financial Institution and non-traditional lenders that specializes in providing loans to black, minority, and underserved small businesses.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are excited to have had such a dynamic group of panelists eager to share their experiences and tips with our talented and promising future entrepreneurs of Central Florida,\u201d said Vernice Adkins-Bradley, board chair of the AACCF.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The challenges facing urban entrepreneurs and the best ways to overcome them were among the discussion topics at the inaugural Urban Entrepreneur Roundtable held recently at Orlando City Hall. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5360,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[152,142,24,29,25,445],"class_list":["post-2778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-african-american-chamber-of-commerce","tag-board-of-county-commissioners","tag-county-news","tag-featured-stories","tag-mayor-jacobs","tag-public-engagement"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n