North Port celebrates small businesses with Quarterly Business Welcome
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
NORTH PORT, FL – The City of North Port once again hosted a successful Quarterly Business Welcome on Saturday. For the first quarter of 2023 – January through March – the City welcomed 84 new businesses, each of which received public commendation and signed certificates. Participants at the event also had the chance to take part in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting photo opportunity, present their business to attendees and establish connections with City staff, dignitaries and local partners.
The businesses that attended the event had the opportunity to build relationships with representatives from the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida (SBDC Tampa Bay), CareerSource Suncoast, the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce and more. These organizations offer vital resources, tools and support to North Port City’s burgeoning small business community.
“The rate at which small businesses are sprouting and thriving here is nothing short of phenomenal,” said City Manager Jerome Fletcher. “It’s not just growth, it’s transformative growth – reshaping our economic landscape at a pace that’s been both exciting and inspiring.”
This event demonstrates a forward-thinking strategy to engage with North Port’s business community, connecting them with their City and community partners within their first few operational quarters. This business-friendly culture has landing North Port in the top three percent nationwide of 2023’s Best Small Sized Cities to Start a Business (WalletHub), demonstrating the quality of the City’s business environment, access to resources, and minimal business costs. Boosting local entrepreneurship is a key initiative in North Port, as outlined in the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.
“Establishing connections during the critical early-growth phase of a local business’s journey is paramount to our team,” said Vinnie Mascarenhas, Interim Manager of City of North Port Economic Development. “This is the time when our team and community partners can make a significant difference, helping new businesses create connections and discover the resources available to them as they navigate the North Port market.”
Businesses in North Port are invited to engage with the City’s Economic Development Division by calling 941-429-7029 or emailing [email protected].