Florida Business Center Helps 113 New Companies Launch

When Kevin and Daniela Noble wanted to launch their artisan coffee truck business in Southwest Florida, they had passion but needed a roadmap. Free consultants from the Florida Small Business Development Center at FGCU asked the questions they hadn't thought of and helped them open Noble Brews in September 2024.

The SBDC has been doing this for 50 years, and 2025 marked their biggest impact yet. Their 15 business consultants logged over 12,000 hours with 1,322 clients across Southwest Florida, supporting more than 5,000 jobs and helping launch 113 brand new businesses.

Small businesses make up most companies in America, typically defined as having fewer than 500 employees and less than $7.5 million in annual revenue. In Southwest Florida specifically, companies with fewer than 20 employees account for about 25% of all jobs in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties.

The consultants guide entrepreneurs through every step, from writing business plans to securing funding. In 2025 alone, they provided guidance on 281 capital transactions ranging from thousands to millions of dollars for startups, manufacturing, government contracting and more.

"They guide you and ask those questions you wouldn't think of or know of, like how to fund the project and write a business plan," Kevin Noble says. "They really helped with providing those tools and assistance and guidance."

The Ripple Effect

What started in 1976 as a single federally funded program has grown into Florida's official small business assistance provider with offices at universities statewide. The network recognizes that small businesses together create innovation and wealth that fuels entire regional economies.

Assistant Director Elizabeth Goldbach says their work centers on collaboration, innovation and delivering meaningful impact. "We are equally committed to delivering high-quality service, fostering strong relationships and ensuring access to the tools and knowledge business owners need to move forward with confidence."

The SBDC is celebrating its golden anniversary with two major events. On May 6, they'll host their 14th annual Distinguished Entrepreneur Awards at FGCU's Cohen Center, honoring local business leaders including Noble Brews, which won last year's William O. Webb Award for creativity and community commitment.

In August, the statewide network will host its fifth annual Small Business Success Summit at Sunseeker Resort in Port Charlotte, bringing together consultants, contractors and professionals from across Florida to share expertise and build partnerships.

Fifty years of free guidance has transformed thousands of entrepreneurial dreams into economic engines that employ neighbors and strengthen communities across the Sunshine State.