Supplier Diversity Digest: A newsletter from the Office of Supplier Diversity
June 2019
Is Your Business Hurricane Ready?
It is officially hurricane season! Has your business developed a disaster continuity plan? Are you prepared to respond and recover when disaster strikes? Planning now can help reduce the negative impact a disaster has on your business, and the good news is that there are plenty of resources to help you prepare:

Knowledge is power, and now is the time to learn about disaster recovery assistance resources that can enable your business to recover and continue operations:
  • The SBA and SBDC are great resources for disaster recovery assistance and loans.
  • The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity also supports communities following disasters through the Office of Disaster Recovery.

And finally, remember the government purchases various goods and services to assist the state and its residents during emergencies and disaster recovery efforts. Making sure your business is prepared to operate efficiently after a disaster strikes, helps ensure you can participate in emergency response efforts:
  • The State’s Florida Emergency Supplier Network (FESN) is a network of suppliers that have agreed to make all reasonable efforts to ensure the availability of goods and services during emergencies. You can learn more about the network and complete the FESN application here.

Being prepared not only helps your business survive a disaster, it can help you respond to disaster related business opportunities as well. By being a prepared small business, you’re helping Florida be prepared!
Small Business Update
Provided by the Florida SBDC Network
Looking to ignite your business’ growth? Don’t miss the 9th Annual Small Business Leadership Conference, which will be held June 26-28, 2019 at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes.
 
Co-hosted by the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship and the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, the Small Business Leadership Conference is the premier professional development and networking opportunity for small business owners, managers, executives, economic and community development leaders, marketing and business professionals, and nonprofits in Florida and beyond.
 
The conference will provide an opportunity for attendees to share innovative ideas, best practices, and other vital information to bolster their professional development and ignite strategic growth. To learn more and register, visit www.SBLConference.com.
Provided by the Florida Advisory Council on Small and Minority Business Development (FACSMBD)

The Council had the pleasuring of hearing from Robert Major, Stakeholder Manager with the Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) during their April meeting. Mr. Major introduced the OSD Mentor-Protégé Program to the Council, outlining the program’s goals, current status, and need for mentors.
OSD Executive Director Donna Williams, Tech Army Relationship Management Officer India Hairston, and Tech Army Executive Vice President and Florida Advisory Council on Small and Minority Business Development Chair Jay Narang enjoyed meeting with small business owners at the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council’s 34 th Annual Business Expo.
From the Marines to the Army and from recruiting to coaching, the Veterans Florida Career Services team comes from a variety of backgrounds. Together they have one goal: to connect veterans with Florida employers who want to take advantage of their unique training and skills.

Veterans Florida Career Services is coming to Orlando on June 15th for the Veterans Florida Expo. Register today to attend the career fair, learn about state resources, and watch veteran entrepreneurs compete for funding in the Battle of the Pitches.
Small Business Snippets
MyFloridaMarketPlace
The MFMP team introduced 990 new Commodity Codes in April 2019. Check out the MFMP Commodity Codes page to determine if you should add new codes in your MFMP VIP account.
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The content of this newsletter is intended to serve as informational only. It should not be construed as business advice or an endorsement of any particular organization by the Office of Supplier Diversity or the Florida Department of Management Services.