Small Business & Supplier Diversity
The Office of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (OSBSD) assists small businesses at every step of the way and is dedicated to enhancing the participation of small business in Pinellas County’s procurement opportunities. Startups, established businesses, or companies looking for resources can expect personalized assistance, consulting, classes and more to start, scale or accelerate.
Solutions for small businesses.
Pinellas County is known for its entrepreneurial ecosystem and rich history of innovation. Located on West Florida’s Central Gulf Coast in Florida, in one of the best business climates in the nation, Pinellas entrepreneurs and small businesses have the freedom to innovate, grow and prosper. Startups and businesses can take advantage of the hands-on, personalized approach to business assistance offered in Pinellas County.
The Office of Small Business & Supplier Diversity delivers professional, high quality, education and assistance, economic opportunity, and access to capital to generate employment and economic growth for small businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs as a partner with the Florida SBDC Network at Pinellas County. Additionally, the OSBSD is dedicated to enhancing the participation of small business in Pinellas County’s procurement opportunities. The OSBSD is responsible for the compliance of the Small Business Enterprise Program and provides support to certified businesses through business development and procurement advocacy programs, in cooperation with other departments and agencies.
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News & Success Stories
Stay updated on the latest industry news in Pinellas County.
Permanent Jewelry Business Finds New Home in St. Petersburg
Entrepreneur Mariel McMurrey has successfully turned her passion for handmade jewelry and sustainability into a thriving small business: Sadie + Sky Permanent Jewelry. Knowing that her expertise in creating personalized pieces of jewelry wasn’t enough to launch a successful business, McMurrey reached out to the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development for business startup assistance with consultant Debra Schweikowsky. Schweikowsky helped McMurrey through business startup basics, such as setting up an Employer Identification Number (EIN), understanding quarterly sales tax, and thinking about the future of the business.
Flavorful Puerto Rican Food Truck Gets its Start in St. Petersburg
Lynette Domenech and her husband are fulfilling their dreams of owning a business, the Loco Mofongo food truck, thanks to assistance from Debra Schweikowsky, business consultant with the the Florida SBDC at USF at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED). “She has helped me with financial information, with links and resources for permitting, licenses, all of the steps that I needed to follow to create my LLC and all of the business-related paperwork,” Domenech said.
Firefighting Alert System Makes Waves Across the United States
Blake Richardson and Elezar Tonev, owners of EaseAlert, reached out to the Florida Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) for help in strategically growing their business. PTAC procurement specialist Yolanda Goodloe provided in-depth guidance on facilitating growth through government contracting.
The FSBDCN at Pinellas County Economic Development is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action Institution. For disability accommodations please contact St. Petersburg College Security at (727) 791-2560 a minimum of five days in advance.
The FSBDCN at Pinellas County Economic Development is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide service network funded in part through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida and other private and public partners; hosted by the University of West Florida; and nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs.
State Designated as Florida’s Principal Provider of Business Assistance [§ 288.001, Fla. Stat.]
This Procurement Technical Assistance Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense.
CONTACT US
Division Director, Office of Small Business and Supplier Diversity
cmccaster@pinellas.gov
(727) 453-7200
