PENSACOLA — The Florida Small Business Development Center Network, the state's principal provider of small business assistance, has extended the deadline for a pilot program to help farmers and producers maximize their growth potential through export sales.
The Agribusiness Export Marketing Plan provides qualified recipients with a customized export marketing plan. Designed to assist new-to-export and currently exporting growers and value-added producers, the export-marketing plan encompasses an in-depth report that identifies target markets, market entry strategies, a competitive analysis, as well as an action plan for market entry.
The program is designed for Florida farmers and value-added producers.
To be eligible:
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Food producers must show 51 percent of their food product from Florida
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Products must be produced in Florida and must be provided from a Florida-based location
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Businesses must have a minimum of three years in operation and $500,000 in annual sales
Once qualified, farmers meet with a Florida SBDC international trade specialist to conduct a confidential, in-depth business assessment. The specialist will then prepare and provide a customized export-marketing plan.
The cost to prepare an Agribusiness Export Marketing Plan is $5,000. Qualifying companies are eligible for a $4,750 scholarship, making the cost only $250.
"Agriculture is critical to Florida's economy," said Michael Myhre, CEO and network state director of the Florida SBDC. "We are very excited about the potential this program holds for our state's agricultural producers."
The application deadline has been extended until Dec. 1.
For questions, call 1-800-450-4624.
For over forty years, the Florida Small Business Development Center Network has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida's economy.
Since 2011, Florida SBDCs have provided 513,107 hours of professional business consulting to 74,669 client businesses, resulting in 252,955 jobs created, retained, or saved; $33.3 billion in sales growth; $2.6 billion in government contract awarded; $1.4 billion in capital investments acquired; and 4,159 new businesses started.
A statewide network of over 40 offices, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, state of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a 2016 recipient of the President's E Award for Export Service.
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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Deadline extended for Agribusiness Export Marketing Plan Service