In a bold move to strengthen the entrepreneurial landscape, the 2024 Small Business Survey has been launched with support from the JPMorgan Chase and Pinellas Community Foundation's Diverse Ventures program. This initiative seeks to gather essential insights from local business owners, paving the way for more effective support and growth opportunities in Tampa Bay.
Your Voice, Our Future: Take the Survey TodayAll small business owners in Tampa Bay are invited to share their experiences by participating in this five-minute survey. The survey is designed to identify the strengths and gaps within the current entrepreneurial support systems, providing a roadmap for future investments in programs and resources. By contributing to this effort, participants will gain access to valuable data on local business challenges, needs, and trends. Selected respondents may also be invited to join a focus group for deeper discussions on the region's business landscape.
Click here to take the survey
The survey will remain open through October 1, 2024. The results will be presented on October 30, 2024, at a special convening of entrepreneurs, support organizations, investors, and business leaders. This event will focus on developing actionable recommendations to strengthen and diversify the regional business support ecosystem, with a particular emphasis on underrepresented entrepreneurs, including women, Black, and Hispanic business owners.
A group of support organizations, led by the Innovation District and fueled by a grant from Duke Energy, developed our first Tampa Bay Innovation Ecosystem Map in 2023. We aim to continue guiding entrepreneurs to the best possible resources with an updated version.
Josh Rojas of Bay News 9 recently visited the Maritime and Defense Tech Hub, where he was welcomed by CEO Alison Barlow and COO Lauren Bell for a discussion about the building’s future expansion. The Hub is already home to a thriving community of companies and demand continues to grow. To accommodate this momentum, leaders are envisioning Hub 2.0, a second building proposed for the west parking lot.
The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, in partnership with Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, is introducing a capacity-building grant initiative that exemplifies strategic, next-level support. In 2025, they will award up to $10,000 each to 20 nonprofits serving South St. Petersburg.