for Small Businesses

Financial Assistance

AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

As difficult as it has been amid a pandemic, many small businesses are forging ahead and enduring the times, thanks to government-backed financial assistance and community support. Here’s a compilation of some resources available to business owners looking for help to survive or thrive.

Federal, State and Local Pandemic Aid

SHUTTERED VENUE OPERATORS GRANT (SVO)

In its second coronavirus stimulus bill in the final days of 2020, Congress created the SVO grant and directed the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance to manage it.

The program includes $16 billion to provide grants to shuttered venues, whether a business or nonprofit. Some funding is reserved for groups with 50 or fewer employees. Eligible applicants will include operators, managers and promoters of live venues, performing arts organizations, museums, zoos, aquariums, and theaters, among others.

To learn more about the assistance they provide and download the comprehensive disaster loan comparison chart, visit floridasbdc.org/disaster/cares-act. The website is a great resource for information about other federal and state relief programs.

OTHER GOVERNMENT DISASTER AID

The Florida SBDC Network, a coalition of small business development centers compiled a handy guide on their website called “A Comparison of Small Business Disaster Loans Available Through the Economic Aid Act,” which includes detailed financing guidelines and eligibility requirements for PPP loans, SVO grants and other pandemic assistance, such as the Economic Injury Disaster Loan. The EIDL offers low interest, 30 year terms for small businesses to meet working capital and normal operating expense needs including continued health care benefits, rent and fixed debt payments that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Learn more at sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options.

NON-GOVERNMENTAL DISASTER AID

A variety of nonprofits, banks and local organizations also run business support programs that can be useful for sustaining or growing your company amid the pandemic.

For instance, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a non-profit community development financial institution with programs in 44 states, is a significant resource for many small businesses. Learn more about their pandemic relief programs at lisc.org/covid-19.

Grants and loans not specific to the pandemic

To learn more about long-standing government grant programs and competitive business solicitations, visit the State of Florida website at: myflorida.com/index. shtml. Learn about grants and grant writing tips at grants.gov.

SUPPORT FOR MINORITYOWNED BUSINESSES

The Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) provides resources and loans to minorityowned businesses throughout the year. Find your local MBDA Business Center at MBDA.gov.

FOREIGN EXPORTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOWS

The U.S. Small Business Administration State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) works through state governments to assist small businesses that want to export products. Small businesses that meet their state’s criteria can use the financial assistance to participate in foreign trade missions and shows, obtain entry to foreign markets, develop websites and design international marketing products or campaigns.

POPULAR SMALL BUSINESS LOANS

Small Business Administration loans range from $500 to $5 million. The agency doesn’t lend money directly to small business owners. Instead, it sets guidelines for loans made by its partnering lenders, community development organizations, and microlending institutions. Generally, SBA loans have flexible requirements. Some do not require collateral. The federal agency also provides counseling and education to small business owners to support your success. Learn more at sba.gov/funding-programs/ loans.

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA

Enterprise Florida provides training, development and financing options with federal and non-profit resources to assist small businesses in accessing capital, growing revenue and job creation. Learn more at enterpriseflorida.com/small-business.

Local Broward County Resources

MENTORSHIP AND TRAINING

SCORE, a decades-old national network of volunteer, expert business mentors, operates one of its top-performing chapters in Broward County. They offer free mentoring, low-cost or no-cost development workshops, and partner with many community organizations committed to the formation and growth of small businesses in South Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To access their services for all small businesses, including those led by women, veterans, and Spanish-speakers, go to broward.score.org.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNSELING

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance — simply referred to as The Alliance —is a public-private partnership for economic development, providing personalized counseling and support to small businesses. Through their BRAVO (Business Retention Assistance and Visitation Outreach) program, representatives of the Alliance, Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development, local municipalities, and chambers of commerce conduct visits to local businesses. These experts offer tailored advice on business development and accessing financing. The group also provides advice on how to access alternative business funding, which often is critical for minority business owners who might not have access to conventional loans. Any business located in Broward County is eligible. Learn more about BRAVO and other programs at gflalliance.org. POWER TIP: To position your business for state, county or local government business opportunities, get certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Woman Owned (WBE) or Veteran Owned (VBE). Assistance can be found at dms.myflorida.com/agency_administration/office_of_supplier_diversity_osd/get_certified

Broadway At LPAC

MNM Theatre Company will partner with North End Theater Company, the production division of Arts Center Management (ACM), a multi-platform theatre management company, to produce the Broadway at LPAC series at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center.

ACM recently signed a long-term contract to produce the series for the City of Lauderhill. The three-show 2022 season will feature the hit musicals Grease, Sister Act and Guys and Dolls.

MNM Theatre Company is an award-winning not-for-profit 501(c)(3) theatre company whose mission is to produce high quality professional live theatre that inspires audiences and enriches the cultural life of the community while creating Florida based jobs in the Arts.

MNM has produced large scale musicals (including Spamalot, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Hair, La Cage Aux Folles, Little Shop of Horrors) as well as smaller, intimate productions (Side By Side By Sondheim, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, My Way, A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra), garnering critical and audience acclaim, numerous prestigious South Florida Carbonell Award nominations - and a win, and multiple Silver Palm Awards.

“We are extremely excited to begin working with the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center and North End Theater Company,” Gorman says, “And to bring MNM Theatre Company and musical theatre to Lauderhill and Broward County!”

“The City of Lauderhill is pleased to be working with our new partners, MNM Theatre Company and Arts Center Management,” says Lauderhill City Manager Desorae Giles-Smith. “After a year of being dark due to COVID-19, we are thrilled to bring light and life back to the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center!”

Arts Center Management is a multi-faceted theatre management, consulting, and production company whose main focus is to help theatres and theatre companies improve their programming and operations. The company was founded by ACM President Kevin Barrett in 2014. Barrett began working with the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center in 2014 and was instrumental in bringing the successful Broadway in Lauderhill series to LPAC.

“During the last year, we have been working behind the scenes, formulating our plans, and there’s no one I would want leading this exciting new venture more than Marcie,” says Barrett. She is one of the most respected regional theater producers in Florida.”

Grease will run from January 14th - January 30th, 2022; Sister Act from February 18th - March 6th; and Guys and Dolls from April 1st - April 17th. Grease and Guys and Dolls will be directed by Jonathan Van Dyke, and Sister Act will be helmed by Michael Ursua.

Tickets and subscriptions to Broadway at LPAC will be on sale soon, and various subscription packages will be available.

The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center is located at 3800 NW 11th Place (33311), in the Central Broward Regional Park on the Northeast corner of Sunrise Boulevard and State Road 7. For more information about LPAC visit lpacfl.com.