Chamber speaker pushes disaster plan
Florida Gulf Coast University’s Suzanne Specht discussed business planning and how her department helps small business owners prepare disaster plans during her speech at the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Pastabilities & More Thursday.
Specht, who is the assistant director, professional development coordinator and certified business analyst for the school’s Small Business Development Center, has counseled more than 2,000 small business owners in the past 12 years at FGCU. This has resulted in 140 new businesses and a capital formation of more than $15 million.
“I’ve lived in Southwest Florida for roughly 31 years, so I’ve seen a lot of growth, issues, hurricanes and small business centers come and go,” she said.
Specht, whose background is in finance, and SBDC offer free counseling for small business owners through financial resources and reviewing business plans among other services. The center also has counsellors who specialize in helping with various government contracts and procurement as well as state and local governments and minority businesses.
“We try to make sure that small business owners are going to succeed in this economy,” said Specht. “We try to focus on seminars and workshops that are going to help you become better at what you do and become successful in staying in business. The counseling is totally free and confidential.”
Specht said SBDC has begun putting together a summer series called Survivor for the FMB Chamber. It will focus on how to write a business plan, how to get a small business loan, how to market your business and social media like Facebook, blogs and the makeup of a business’ website.
“The Survivor theme will be outplan, outperform and outlast,” she said. “We’re going to start out on June 22 at the Beach chamber. There will a number of other programs available to make up a series starting in July.”
Specht also noted the center aids in disaster preparedness. There were not many hands raised when she asked who has a disaster plan for their business.
“I think, as small business owners and an advocate of small businesses, we have to really band together to make sure Southwest Florida gets some dollars for our visitors bureau to make sure business are protected,” she said. “Since not a lot of you have a disaster plan, there are some good resources online. Lee County has put together a business emergency network which is a good resource. You can actually do an online disaster plan at www.floridadisaster.org.”
Specht also mentioned two loan programs -the state’s emergency bridge loan program and the economic injury disaster program through the Small Business Administration. Gov. Charlie Crist activated the former program recently, which allows small businesses to tap up to $25,000 in short-term emergency funds to stay afloat in the midst of the oil disaster.
“There are a whole host of resources available for you as small business owners,” said Specht. “I would say take advantage now to make sure you have a disaster plan and pray that the hurricane season will be very kind to us. All small business owners are the backbone of this economy.”