Jane Scofield of Ennis, Pellum, & Associates CPAs conducts Prepping for Access to Capital workshop for JAX Bridges program
"...I wish that I had had access to this type of trainng when I first started my business."
"...there was a lot of information but it was what I needed to guide my business planning."
"...it was the first training I have been to where I use my own financials to learn how to position my business for loan opportunities and everyday operations."
The Revenue Generators group becomes the first entrepreneurial education session.
On September 17, 2014, the JAX Chamber delivered the first of 23, yes twenty three, entrepreneurial training sessions for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Northeast Florida. Through its innovative program, JAX Bridges, the chamber is assisting business from as far north as Kingsland, GA and as far south as Palatka, FL. Participants range from those generating sporadic revenue to those generating as much as $20 million in revenue per year.
Through expert facilitation and innovative tools, JAX Bridges is set to change how the chamber supports and engages the entrepreneur. Core components of the program:
Winn-Dixie Local Supplier Event
When: September 23rd & 24th
Where: Jacksonville Winn-Dixie Store TBD
(See below for next steps on how to participate)
Winn-Dixie is seeking local suppliers to provide products in the finished good, pre-packaged, general merchandise and produce categories, including:
· Fresh Local Produce (Fruits and Vegetables)
All non-Fresh products must have a UPC and be delivered Direct Store Delivery (DSD) by the supplier.
For this event all suppliers will need to complete the following in order to qualify for consideration:
Next Steps on how to participate: If your company produces items that meet the specifications above, please send an email expressing your interest and providing your complete vendor contact information to: LocalDSDSupplierSupport@biloholdings.com.
Winn-Dixie will respond with additional information about registration requirements, accessing the necessary forms, and further details. Through this process and the supplier event, Winn-Dixie will determine if there is a local market opportunity their customers can connect with and establish new supplier relationships accordingly.
Carlton Robinson, JAX Chamber Senior Director of Entrepreneurial Development, announces JAX Bridges to business leaders and the media.
The JAX Chamber this morning announced the creation of JAX Bridges, a supplier development program that will connect small businesses with mentoring, capital access and contacts with larger companies to help earn business with established corporations.
The program is designed to be the key facilitator of supplier quality and development in Northeast Florida, helping smaller companies grow and promoting supply chain diversification among corporations, said Carlton Robinson, senior director of the JAX Chamber Entrepreneurial Growth Division.
“This program benefits everyone involved,” Robinson said. “Small companies are looking for growth opportunities and access to the larger companies in the region. Larger companies want to help develop local business and know that when our small businesses expand and create jobs in our community, we all benefit.”
There are two main components to making this program successful: getting small businesses prepared for the opportunity and encouraging large corporations to give these companies an opportunity to earn the business.
“You can’t just tell corporations to do this because you think it’s the right thing to do,” said Derek Lott, senior director of supplier diversity for BI-LO Holdings. “This has to make business sense and this program will get small businesses ready so it will make business sense for larger corporations looking for suppliers.”
The goal of the program is to facilitate $100 million in contracts to small businesses annually, Robinson said.
The program will use several key strategies to move toward that goal.
“The Chamber is uniquely positioned to connect small business with opportunities, and help with meaningful training and relationships with the corporate leaders in our community,” said John Delaney, University of North Florida President and incoming chair of JAX Chamber. “This is one of those ideas that sounds like a no-brainer, but if you look around the country no one else is doing it. I look forward to partnering with the Chamber on this new initiative and to seeing the positive economic benefits it will bring to our community.”
The program helps complement the city's programs, such as Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business (JSEB) program and Business Builder events, said Ted Carter, economic development director for the City of Jacksonville.
"It's encouraging to see more private sector participation in supplier diversification and Mayor Brown looks forward to continuing to partner with the Chamber to continue to grow businesses and create jobs in Jacksonville," Carter said.
jaxbridges aligns directly with the region’s 5-year strategic economic development plan, Innovate Northeast Florida. Over the past two years the goal of Innovate has been to drive regional job creation in each target industry and advance areas including entrepreneurship and innovation, talent, business climate and physical infrastructure. Since then, 67,000 jobs have been added to the region, dropping the unemployment rate from 9.4 percent to 6.3 percent.
About JAX Chamber
The JAX Chamber is the business membership organization dedicated to driving quality economic growth in Northeast Florida to make this region the best place to live, work and play. Membership provides the opportunity to connect with and buy from other Chamber members. The connections result in business growth and a more prosperous economy.
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Media Contact: Matt Galnor
(904) 366-6614
matt.galnor@myjaxchamber.com
Media/Articles of Announcement: