The JEDC assists small business owners with obtaining loans or grants through local, state and federal programs. It also guides businesses in using innovative financing alternatives. Contact Joe Whitaker at (904) 630-1624 or e-mail josephw@coj.net.

In addition to the JEDC, there are many partner resources within Jacksonville to assist small businesses. The following is a listing of these partners. Also, visit the JEDC business resource Web page for information on incentives, workforce training and financing programs.

Technical Assistance Providers

• Beaver Street Enterprise Center - The core-city business incubator is a 25,000 square foot professional office facility offering modern workplace amenities for startup and existing business owners.  The facility provides technical assistance, counseling, and mentoring to its tenants.  http://www.bsecenter.net/ 
• Better Business Bureau of Northeast Florida - Provides reliability reports on local and national companies for use in selecting ethical business partners. Also provide dispute-resolution services to resolve conflict between a business and customer. http://northeastflorida.bbb.org/
• First Coast African-American Chamber of Commerce - Works in conjunction with other local minority development organizations to help provide technical and managerial assistance. http://www.fcaacc.org/
• Jacksonville Entrepreneurship Center - Assesses the needs and capabilities of minority business owners in the Jacksonville area. Then those aspiring or current business owners are linked with resources, classes, training and counseling that will help them grow to the next level of success.  http://www.eecjacksonville.com/
• Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Small Business Center - Provides counseling, assistance and workshops in the following areas:  research for starting your business, access to capital and selection of business locations and expansion. http://www.myjaxchamber.com/general.asp?id=244
• Jacksonville Women's Business Center - Training, mentoring, consulting, networking women-owned businesses in all stages of development. http://www.myjaxchamber.com/general.asp?id=334 
• National Association of Minority Contractors, North Florida Chapter - Provides job placement services for student who successfully complete instructional programs for the specialized crafts of carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical and construction crew leadership.  Contact: William Truitt, (904) 766-9299. 
• Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) - Assists in securing contracts with local, state and federal government.  Provides counseling free of charge to any Florida firm, but a minimal fee may be charged for special services or workshops, funded through the Department of Defense and the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce. Contact: Barbara English, (904) 366-6650.  http://www.fptac.org/
• SCORE - Offers confidential, one-on-one counseling by one of 40 local volunteers dedicated to helping to start and grow small businesses.  Practical advice offered by retired business owners or managers with expertise in various industries. http://www.score.org/ 
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of North Florida (UNF) - Sponsors workshops on business start-up basics, a HELP desk and a business library for potential business owners.  Certified business analysts meet with business owners at no charge to provide a confidential sounding board and can connect clients with helpful resources, provides management assistance with financial analysis, market analysis, business planning, management audits and more. http://www.sbdc.unf.edu/ 
• Small Business Resource Network - Helps small businesses achieve greater success by referring them to local and qualified accountants, attorneys, lenders, insurance professionals or business consultants who provide free information. http://www.sbrn.org/
• U.S. Small Business Administration - Provides new and established business owners with financial management, technical and procurement assistance.  The SBA is a federal agency established to aid, counsel and assist and protect the interest of small business and strengthen the overall economy of the nation. http://www.sba.gov/
• Women Business Owners of North Florida - Provides support to women in all stages of business ownership.  Hosts five to six monthly meetings for networking and business education,  Does not directly provide any loans, grants, economic assistance or capital investment.  Sponsor of Woman Business Owner of the Year awards program. http://www.jaxwbo.org/ 

Financing Sources for Your Business

• Essential Capital (Formerly JEDCO) - Encourages economic growth by making SBA loans to allow business owners to buy, build, remodel or purchase machinery and equipment with a minimum investment. http://www.essentialcapital.net/
• Florida Business Development Corporation - Assists healthy, growing small businesses, secures long-term, below market, fixed-rate financing for acquisition of fixed assets. Also provides financial assistance and advisory services to companies considering the possibility of selling their business or contemplating an acquisition or merger.  http://www.fbdc.net/
• Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFCFC) - A statewide, non-profit certified development company that promotes economic development and job creation by working with the SBA and private-sector lenders to provide available and affordable financing to small businesses.  FFCFC lends under the SBA 504 Loan Program, the state of Florida Recycling Loan Program and other small business assistance programs.  http://www.ffcfc.com/
• U.S. Small Business Administration - Provides new and established business owners with financial management, technical and procurement assistance.  The SBA is a federal agency established to aid, counsel and assist and protect the interest of small business and strengthen the overall economy of the nation. http://www.sba.gov/
  

Education, Training and Workshops for Small Businesses

• Beaver Street Enterprise Center - The core-city business incubator is a 25,000 square foot professional office facility offering modern workplace amenities for startup and existing business owners.  The facility provides technical assistance, counseling, and mentoring to its tenants.  http://www.bsecenter.net/ 
• Florida State College Small and Emerging Business Training & Development Program - Offers all of the training necessary to participate in the City of Jacksonville's procurement process.  Courses are free to businesses that meet the City's definition of a small and emerging business. http://www.fccj.edu/campuses/north/smallbusiness/index.html
• Small Business Workshops at the Chamber's Small Business Center - Several workshops offered every month, providing access to specific topics related to every stage of running a business.
  http://www.myjaxchamber.com/general.asp?id=499
• Small Business Workshops at the Small Business Development Center at UNF - Offers several workshops on business start-up basics.
  http://www.sbdc.unf.edu/_workshops/index.asp
• UNF Small Business Blog - From the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida.  Business topics for entrepreneurs.  http://unfsbdc.blogspot.com/

Workforce Assistance

• WorkSource - WorkSource provides recruiting assistance, labor market research and training partnerships.  No-cost electronic job postings and career events hosted throughout the region. http://www.worksourcefl.com/

Other Resources

• First Coast African-American Chamber of Commerce
• First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Jacksonville Asian American Alliance
• Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce of Northeast Florida