By: Julie K. Song, Project Manager
Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership
1180 Celebration Blvd., Suite 103
Celebration, FL 34747
Office: 321.305.5666; Cell: 321.246.1885; Fax: 321.939.4001; julies@floridamep.org
Did you know that as a small business you can receive assistance in the following areas for training of employees (new or incumbent)?
- LEAN: Manufacturing, Office, Healthcare, Government
- ISO9001:2008
- AS9100:2003C
- Kaizen - continuous improvement of processes in manufacturing, engineering, supporting business processes, and management. The concept has been applied to healthcare, government, and other industries.
- VSM - Value Stream Mapping
The assistance is available through Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Florida MEP). Florida MEP will offer you free consultation to review your training needs. Should you decide to use Florida MEP's resources, Florida MEP will work with you to write and submit a grant request to cover up to 75% of your training expenses.
Below is also a quick outline of some other local organizations that offer grants to Brevard's small businesses. Please make sure to take advantage of them.
Workforce Florida
Sarah Fixel
Incumbent Worker Training Coordinator
Workforce Florida
1580 Waldo Palmer Lane, Suite 1
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Office: 850.921.1119
Direct: 850.921.1132
Fax: 850.922.9050
sfixel@workforceflorida.com
www.workforceflorida.com
Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Grant can cover up to 75% of training costs for ANY type of training for full time employees. For companies with over 25 employees the grant would cover up to 50% of any training costs.
Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast – Brevard County
Julie Roslin, Manager Business Retention & Expansion
Economic Development Commission (EDC)
597 Haverty Court Suite 100
Rockledge, FL 43955
Office: 321.638.2000
Fax: 321.633.4200
jroslin@spacecoastedc.org
www.spacecoastedc.org
Businesses that are either expanding in Brevard County or are relocating to Brevard County and are adding a minimum of 10 new jobs can qualify for Real Property or Personal Property tax abatement.
- Ad Valorem Tax (AVT) Brevard County – up to 10 years 100% abatement
- Real Property Taxes
- Personal Property Taxes
- City Ad Valorem Tax (AVT) – various programs and length of time for abatement
The following cities have tax abatement programs. Contact the city offices directly to learn more.
Brevard Workforce
Jeffrey M. Schiff, Business Liaison
Brevard Workforce
597 Haverty Court – Suite 40
Rockledge, FL 32955
Cell: 321.604.1784
Office: 321.394.0515
jschiff@brevardworkforce.com
www.brevardworkforce.com
EMERGE Program – Covers 100% of salary and benefits for a specific period of time
On-the-job training (OJT) – covers 50% of wages for on the job training
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Brevard Community College
Sandy Pfrimmer, Operations Coordinator
Small Business Development Center at BCC
BCC, Building 10, Room 122
3865 N. Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL 32935
Office: 321.433.5570
Fax: 321.433.5708
pfrimmers@brevardcc.edu
www.brevardcc.edu/workforce
SBDC offers Small Business assistance, workshops, and mentoring.
If your business is located in Titusville or Cocoa, please contact SEDC or the City of Cocoa to learn more about their small business assistance programs. Their efforts to help local businesses have been remarkable.
SEDC – City of Titusville
Matt Chestnut, Executive Director
Space Coast Economic Development Commission
2000 South Washington Ave., Suite 2
Titusville, FL 32780-4752
Office: 321.269.3221
Fax: 321.567.0051
Matt.Chestnut@Titusville.com
www.NspacecoastEDC.org
City of Cocoa
Mary Sharpe, Manager
Office of Economic Development
City of Cocoa
65 Stone Street
Cocoa, Florida 32922
Office: 321-433-8525
Cell: 321-591-4578
msharpe@cocoafl.org
www.cocoafl.org