| Network Insights Newsletter | January 2026 |
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| A Message from the State Director |
Valued Partners,
Every new year brings exciting milestones, recognition, and opportunities. This year is especially meaningful for our Network as we celebrate 50 years of the Florida SBDC Network and 40 years of our APEX Accelerator program.
For five decades, the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network has served as a trusted partner to Florida’s small business community. Since our founding in 1976, we have provided access to no-cost, confidential consulting; affordable, high‑quality training; innovative tools; and the expertise of seasoned small business professionals.
Today, we are the largest network of small business consultants in the state, with more than 225 consultants and specialists. Many have built, grown, and sustained businesses of their own, bringing invaluable real‑world experience to every client interaction. Throughout our history, we have partnered with business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey—helping them navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build resilient, thriving enterprises. |
Earlier this month, we were honored to celebrate these remarkable entrepreneurs in the courtyard of the Florida Capitol. More than 50 small businesses, partners, and resource providers joined the Florida SBDC Network Mobile Assistance Center to showcase their products and services. During the event, I had the privilege of speaking alongside UWF President Manny Diaz Jr.; Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly; Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd; Florida DBPR Secretary Melanie Griffin; CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrienne Johnston; and U.S. SBA Regional Administrator Tyler Teresa—highlighting the successes of our small businesses and the incredible environment our state fosters for entrepreneurs.
This show of partnership and support is truly inspiring, and I am grateful for each of you and the work you do every day on behalf of Florida’s small businesses.
Greg Britton,
State Director, Florida SBDC Network |
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| Tackling the Talent Gap: How Florida Small Businesses are Winning the War for Workers |
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The latest economic data is in, and the message is clear: workforce challenges remain a top-tier hurdle for small business owners. Finding qualified labor is no longer just a "hiring" issue—it is a strategic battle to both attract new talent and retain the skilled team members already in place.
According to the December 2025 NFIB Small Business Economic Trends report, labor quality is now the second-largest concern for owners (19%), trailing only taxes. Key indicators show a tightening squeeze:
- Unfilled Openings: 33% of owners reported job openings they could not fill—well above the 24% historical average.
- Skills Gap: Openings for skilled workers rose to 28% (up 2 points), while openings for unskilled labor decreased to 10% (down 2 points).
- Quality of Applicants: 48% of all owners reported finding few or no qualified applicants for open positions (91% of those hiring or trying to hire). Specifically, 23% of owners reported receiving no qualified applicants at all.
This trend is echoed in the MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index, which found that the pressure to attract and retain talent has surged from 16% to 26% year-over-year.
Small businesses remain resilient, with many prioritizing expansion despite the tight labor market, according to the NFIB.
- Hiring Plans: A net 17% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, though this is a 2-point decrease from November.
- Rising Compensation: To attract or retain workers, a net 31% of owners reported raising compensation in December, a 5-point increase from the previous month.
- Future Plans: A net 24% of owners plan to further increase compensation over the next three months.
Technology adoption also presents an opportunity when looking at workforce challenges. In one study of Florida’s small businesses, approximately 78% of small businesses using AI actually increased their workforce. This suggests that small businesses are using AI to make their existing workforce more productive, which in turn fuels the need for more (higher-skilled) staff.
Florida’s Solution: Partnering for Growth
This week, Florida SBDC Network was honored to join our partner CareerSource Florida at its Workforce Day at the Capitol to highlight the resources available to help small businesses navigate these hurdles. While there are many solutions to explore, CareerSource Florida offers a powerful dual-track strategy to combat labor shortages and retention issues through its Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) and Apprentice Florida programs.
The IWT program serves as a critical retention tool by providing performance-based grants that reimburse small businesses for up to 75% of the costs to upskill their current full-time staff, effectively closing internal skills gaps and preventing layoffs. Complementing this, the Apprentice Florida initiative addresses a lack of qualified applicants by helping businesses "build their own talent" through a registered earn-and-learn model. This structured approach boasts a 93% retention rate after completion, as the progressive wage scale and hands-on training help create deep-rooted employee loyalty. Ready to grow your team? Find your local CareerSource board here.
The Florida SBDC Network partners with local community partners to support all small business needs. Not sure where to start? Contact your local SBDC today. |
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| 2026 Small Business Day at the Capitol Recap |
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The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network hosted its annual Florida Small Business Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, January 21, at the Florida Capitol Courtyard. The annual event celebrated and highlighted the vital role small businesses play in Florida’s economy, while providing an opportunity for policymakers, business leaders, and the public to engage directly with the entrepreneurs who drive economic growth across the state, as well as the resource providers who support them.
More than fifty Florida SBDC Network small business clients and resource partners showcased their products and services during the event. The network also provided tours of its mobile assistance center, which is deployed into communities following disasters to help small businesses recover.
The event featured special addresses by Florida SBDC Network State Director Greg Britton; University of West Florida President Manny Diaz, Jr.; Florida Secretary of Commerce, J. Alex Kelly; Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd; Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Melanie Griffin; CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrienne Johnston; and SBA Southeastern Regional Administrator Tyler Teresa.
The day concluded with the announcement of a special proclamation from Governor Ron DeSantis recognizing January 21, 2026, as Florida Small Business Day at the Capitol. |
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| Save the Date | Florida Rural Business Resource Tour |
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The Florida Rural Business Resource Tour is on the move and preparing for its next stop on Friday, February 20, serving Gulf, Franklin, & Wakulla counties - exact location TBA. Hosted in partnership with FloridaCommerce, the tour is designed to bring critical resources, expertise, and connections directly to rural communities across our state. This event is free to attend.
We hope to see you there or on a future tour stop! For more information, please visit FloridaSBDC.org/ruraltour. |
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Call for Presentations
The Florida SBDC Network has launched a call for presentations to invite industry experts and thought leaders to speak at the 2026 Small Business Success Summit, as well as the Annual Florida SBDC Professional Development Conference, which will be held immediately following the Summit. Key areas of focus for breakout sessions include access to capital, business operations, business growth, government contracting, technology, and marketing.
Now in its fifth year, this year’s Summit coincides with the Florida SBDC Network’s 50th anniversary, marking five decades of helping entrepreneurs across the state launch, grow, and thrive. In this milestone year for the network, the Summit will bring together small business owners, experienced Florida SBDC Network consultants, and knowledgeable experts together to share valuable information to help business owners take their business to the next level.
The deadline to submit a presentation proposal is March 31.
Don’t Wait! Register Now for the Early Bird Rate
Registration for the event is $350, with a discounted early bird rate of $300 available until July 17. If you’d like to receive information on the event, sign up for updates here. We hope to see you there! |
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2026 Sponsorship Opportunities Available
We’re excited to share our 2026 sponsorship packet for the Small Business Success Summit and Annual Professional Development Conference. Both events offer excellent opportunities for visibility, engagement, and meaningful connection with Florida’s small business community. We invite you to review the sponsorship options and explore how your organization can partner with us in the year ahead. |
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Donna Ferreira, an experienced educator and founder of a new preschool in Fernandina Beach, turned to the Florida SBDC when she realized that opening a school required far more than classroom expertise. While she brought decades of experience in early childhood education, she had never started a small business and needed guidance navigating financing, property renovation, licensing, and timelines. Working with Florida SBDC at UNF consultant Jodi Henson, Donna received critical support securing an SBA 7(a) loan, managing budgets and deadlines, and preparing for Department of Children and Families certification, helping her successfully open the school on schedule.
To learn more, read her full story here. |
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Ron Ben-Zeev, founder and president of World Housing Solution, turned to the Florida SBDC at UCF when his modular shelter company made a critical pivot from the disaster relief market to supplying the U.S. Department of War and needed help navigating the complexities of government contracting. Originally launched in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the company found new traction when the U.S. Navy challenged it to adapt its shelter designs for defense needs, opening the door to federal opportunities. Through no-cost consulting, support from the Florida APEX Accelerator at UCF, and participation in the Advisory Board Council program, Ben-Zeev received guidance on government procurement, market positioning, and strategic growth. With expert help refining targeting, responding to bids, and building long-term capacity, World Housing Solution successfully entered the defense market and positioned itself for sustained growth.
To learn more, read their full story here. |
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As a network, we subscribe to and produce a variety of tools to help keep our partners and stakeholders informed. By using these tools, we’re able to offer our partners and clients smarter insights, tailored strategies, and meaningful solutions.
Get to know one of our tools: ProfitCents |
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You can read more about the tool here. |
Ep. 401 | Florida’s Manufacturing Boom: Jason Mahon & Kevin Carr on Economic Growth and Future Industries
Live from the Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum, this milestone Small Biz Florida episode features a powerhouse conversation with Jason Mahon, Florida’s Deputy Secretary of Economic Development and Chief Manufacturing Officer, and Kevin Carr, CEO of FloridaMakes. Together, they break down Florida’s extraordinary economic surge, including a jump in state GDP from $1.1 trillion to $1.7 trillion and the doubling of manufacturing GDP to over $80 billion in just six years.
The discussion highlights how Florida has become a national leader in manufacturing productivity, how collaboration between support organizations (like FloridaMakes, SBDC, and Florida Commerce) fuels this momentum, and why future industries such as Ag Tech, shipbuilding, and quantum innovation are in focus. Most importantly, they explain why small businesses are the benchmark of Florida’s success story.
Listen to the full episode here. |
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| Questions & More Information |
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| We hope this newsletter proves value to you! Have suggestions or information you'd like to see? Please let Beverly Byerts, director of strategic partnerships, know at bbyerts@uwf.edu. |
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