USF Growth Expo Targets Small Businesses

In honor of National Small Business Week, May 16-20, the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will hold its second annual growth expo. The free day-long event provides small businesses with information regarding sales strategies, available funding and how social media can boost marketing campaigns.

The expo hosted by the SBDC at USF will be held throughout the week at various locations in Hillsborough, Polk, Pinellas, Highlands, Pasco, DeSoto, Hernando, Manatee, Sarasota and Hardee counties.

"We had 200 people at last year's conference," says Jim Parrish assistant director of the growth conference. "This year we will have similar workshops, but have also added a town hall meeting component, where we hope to have government representatives on hand to answer attendee's questions regarding legislation which will affect small business."

Parrish says the event will include various workshops including Certifications for Growth, where minority business owners can learn how to become government certified, and Growing Globally, which will provide business owners information on new markets and executing trade plans, as well as a workshop on how to use social media to acquire customers and promote products and services.

While the growth conference is open to the public, Parrish says the event is geared more toward those who are already in business.

"Our target audience for the conference are those who are in small business looking to grow," Parrish says. "This conference is not for people wanting to start a business. Small business owners who are interested in attending the growth conference can register via our website."

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Jim Parrish, SBDC at USF