[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E363-E364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     FLORIDA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (FSBDC) AT FLORIDA 
                        INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2023

  Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, Florida International University (FIU) is 
one of the top universities in the Nation, and the presence of the 
Florida Small Business Development Center (FSBDC) at FIU has had a 
great impact on the South Florida economy. Established under FJU's 
College of Business in 2014, the Center is a team of highly experienced 
business consultants providing assistance and training to entrepreneurs 
and business owners in Miami-Dade County to help them start, grow, and 
succeed.
  It is vital that individuals starting a business have access to 
resources that will help ensure their long-term success. The FSBDC at 
FIU works one-on-one with Miami-Dade County small businesses providing 
startup assistance, access to capital, marketing. financial management, 
international trade, human resources, and business strategy advising.
  Since its inception in 2014, the FSBDC at FIU has delivered more than 
112,900 hours of consulting to 6,964 Miami-Dade County small 
businesses, resulting in business owners securing over $425 million in 
capital, securing $287.5 million in government contracts, increasing 
sales by $379.2 million, impacting 28,829 jobs, and launching 415 new 
businesses. In my district alone, the Florida SBDC at FIU provided 
3,859 consulting hours to 490 local small businesses in 2022. 
Additionally, last year the center assisted entrepreneurs in Florida's 
27th Congressional district to launch 25 new businesses; secure $23.5 
million in capital; and obtain $18.9 million in government contracts.
  On April 10, 2023 the U.S. Small Business Administration announced 
the Center as the

[[Page E364]]

winner of the 2023 Small Business Development Center Excellence and 
Innovation Award, which recognizes the country's top small business 
center. Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to the success 
of the Center. They are incredibly deserving of this award.

                          ____________________