North Port celebrates small businesses with Quarterly Business Welcome
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
CITY OF NORTH PORT, FL – The City of North Port held another successful Business Welcome on Saturday. This quarter (October, November, and December of 2022), the City welcomed 28 new businesses, each of which received public recognition and signed certificates. Additionally, those in attendance leveraged the opportunity to take a commemorative ribbon-cutting photo; pitch their business to attendees; and network with City staff, dignitaries and community partners.
Attending businesses were able to network with partners from the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County (EDC), the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida (SBDC Tampa Bay), CareerSource Suncoast and the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce. These organizations provide resources, tools and support to The City of North Port’s small business community.
“The early-growth stage of a local businesses’ cycle is the single most important time to make the connection,” said Vinnie Mascarenhas, Interim Manager of City of North Port Economic Development. “This is when City staff and community partners can leave the greatest impact, helping new business make connections and uncover resources available as they venture into the North Port area market.”
This event signifies a proactive approach to connecting with North Port’s business community, introducing them to their municipal and community partners within their first operational quarter. Small businesses make up 99.8% of all businesses in the State of Florida, accounting for a majority of Florida’s exporters. Supporting the local entrepreneurial spirit is a major initiative in the City of North Port, represented in the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.
“As the second-fastest growing City in the United States, this City’s momentum is unstoppable,” said Jerome Fletcher, City Manager. “Our job is to support that growth, especially within our small business community.”
Businesses in North Port are welcome to connect with the City’s Economic Development Division by calling 941-429-7029 or emailing [email protected].