Prosperity Center
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Mission Statement
Focus on the success of our constituents and allow everyone an equal opportunity to live the American Dream.
Purpose
The Prosperity Center (PC) was developed after the Congresswoman’s interaction with the community at District 27 during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic. When she learned of the various needs of business constituents, job seekers, and career development needs, she was determined to find a solution that would be effective for their success. The Congresswoman set out to connect her constituents with programming for federal agencies that provide excellent resources directly to our constituents. Her goal is to help constituents succeed in their various personal and business goals.
The Congresswoman understood that the community needed a connector to all the resources the government provides. The pandemic affected the community at a greater level; thus, the need to develop an effective program that would successfully assist the District.
The Prosperity Center serves constituents by connecting them to opportunities in the following areas, with a focus on facilitating government interaction as a resource: (1) entrepreneurial and small business support, (2) employment connectivity, (3) trade skills training and development linkage and (4) International Business liaison.
The Prosperity Center objectives will be accomplished by partnering with local, state, and federal agencies through webinars, roundtables, job opportunity fairs, public and when permissible, private universities that will coordinate workforce skills training courses.
District 27 is a vibrant, diverse community of hard-working, energetic, entrepreneurial constituents. The Prosperity Center will service all constituents with their particular personal and business needs.
SERVICES
Available Workshops, Seminars, and Events
FUTURE EVENTS
Event: FL-27 Job Fair
Employers: Federal, State, County, and City agencies.
Date: Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 10am
PAST EVENTS
Event: SBA Disaster Loans Informational Webinar
Presenter: Brian Beard, Public Affairs Specialist, from the SBA
Topic: SBA will be speaking to inform the community on the U.S. Small Business Administration's Disaster Loans Declaration (17901 & 17902) in response to the April incident in Broward County.
Date: Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 10am
RSVP Closed
Event: Workshop with Legal Services of Greater Miami
Presenter: Legal Services of Greater Miami
Topic: Legal Services' Community Economic Development Initiative; free transactional legal services for your small business or nonprofit.
Date: Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 11am
RSVP Closed
Event: Virtual Workshop - U.S. Commercial Service
Topic: International Trade
Presenter: U.S. Commercial Service’s International Trade Association
Date: Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 11am
Location: Virtual
RSVP Closed
Presenter: FIU’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Date: Thursday, October 14, 2021 – 10:00 AM
Address: Westchester Regional Library, 9445 Coral Way, Miami, FL 33165
RSVP Closed
Small Business Administration Seminar
Presenter: SBA
Date: Thursday, October 28, 2021 - 10:00 AM
RSVP Closed
HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Presenter: General Services Administration (GSA)
Date: Thursday, November 18, 2021 - 10:00 AM
RSVP Closed
Internal Revenue Service Seminar
Presenter: IRS
Date: Thursday, December 2, 2021 - 10:00 AM
RSVP Closed
How to Protect Your IP - Seminar
Presenter: US Patent and Trademark Office
Date: Thursday, December 16, 2021 - 10:00 AM
Minority Business Development Agency
Presenter: U.S. Department of Commerce
Date & Time: Thursday, January 13, 2022 - 10:00 AM
Place: South Dade Regional Library
Address: 10750 SW 211 ST, Cutler Bay, FL 33189
RSVP Closed
Presenter: U.S. Department of Labor
Date & Time: Thursday, February 3, 2022 @ 4:30 PM
Place: Online Event
RSVP Closed
Topic: Finding & Winning Federals Contracts
Presenter: FIU’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Date & Time: Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 4:30 pm
Place: Online Event
RSVP Closed
Topic: Inclusion in the Workplace for Adults with Disabilities
Presenter: The WoW Center
Date & Time: Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 11 AM
Place: Online Event
RSVP Closed
Topic: Cyber Security for Small Business
Presenter: FIU’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Date & Time: April 14, 2022 at 11am
Place: Online Event
RSVP Closed
Event: Small Business Expo
Topic: Come and meet representatives from various government entities and learn about the programs and services available for small businesses as well as how to do business with them. Doors Open at 4:30 PM, End at 7:00 PM
Place: Miami Dade College Eduardo Padron Campus
Address: 627 SW 27th Ave, Miami, FL 33135
Room: 3103
RSVP Closed
Small Business Resources
PC will assist business constituents with their particular business needs through case resolution and provide liaison assistance with government organizations that will be able to support them with any concerns or growth opportunities. Additionally, PC will assist business constituents with federal resources and assistance such as grants, loans, and/or contract opportunities based on their individual business needs. PC will work diligently to bring new companies to economic opportunity zones within the District including companies outside of Florida. PC will also assist international businesses wanting to open or start a new business in the District.
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
The following resources are available to help small businesses navigate through the PPP, EIDL, and other small business programs.
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
- The Small Business Development Centers program provides management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. SBDCs offer one-stop assistance to individuals and small businesses by providing a wide variety of information and guidance in central and easily accessible branch locations
- Assistance from an SBDC is available to anyone interested in beginning a small business for the first time or improving or expanding an existing small business, who cannot afford the services of a private consultant
- Women’s Business Centers (WBCs)
- The SBA’s WBCs is a national network of 136 centers that offer one-on-one counseling, training, networking, workshops, technical assistance, and mentoring to women entrepreneurs on numerous business development topics, including business startup, financial management, marketing, and procurement
- SCORE
- SCORE, “Counselors to America’s Small Business,” is a nonprofit association comprised of 13,000+ volunteer business counselors throughout the U.S. and its territories
- SCORE members are trained to serve as counselors, advisors, and mentors to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners
- These services are offered at no fee, as a community service
- Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs)
- The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling, and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business
- The SBA has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers
- SBA’s Field Office and Regional Offices
- The Office of Field Operations is the organizational unit of the Small Business Administration (SBA) that is primarily responsible for the direct execution of the Agency’s products and services for America’s small businesses, representing the critical link between the small businesses and the SBA policymakers
- Field Operations is a critical part of the Agency’s responsibility to ensure stewardship and accountability over taxpayer dollars through prudent financial management and oversight
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF OPTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONSTITUENTS
- COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
- This loan provides economic relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue
- The SBA is currently accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications from qualified small businesses, including agricultural businesses, and private nonprofit organizations
- Targeted EIDL Advance
- SBA Debt Relief
- The SBA is providing debt relief to certain existing and new SBA loan borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Learn more about this program here
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF OPTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONSTITUENTS CONT.
- Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG)
- Employee Retention Credit Under the CARES Act
- The Employee Retention Credit under the CARES Act encourages businesses to keep employees on their payroll
- The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19
ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES:
- Miami-Dade County Mom & Pop Small Business Grants
- Career Source South Florida
- Community Fund of North Miami Dade
- Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce
- Miami Bayside Foundation
Job Opportunities
Prosperity Center (PC) will assist constituents with job search needs in the local, state and federal government. PC will hold Job Fairs throughout the District to provide constituents an opportunity to meet with hiring companies. Additionally, PC will partner with South Florida Career Source, a federally funded organization, to provide even more resources to job seekers.
Find below some government resources where you can find job opportunities.
Job Opportunities | Sorted by Job Title ascending | CITY OF MIAMI (governmentjobs.com)
Opportunity Center Jobs - Miami (miamigov.com)
Employ Miami Dade - Job Seeker Services - Job Search Results (employ-miamidade.com)
USAJOBS - The Federal Government's official employment site
CareerSource South Florida (careersourcesfl.com)
For additional jobs information and resources, please contact our Main District Office at (305) 668 - 2285.