Summary:
The Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Florida, Inc. (HBIF) was established in Orlando in 1995. HBIF is the leading Hispanic economic development, nonprofit organization that specializes in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who are seeking to establish or expand their business in the state of Florida. This initiative enhances opportunities for Hispanic entrepreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to build successful enterprises. HBIF accomplishes this by offering workshops and seminars in Spanish, free bilingual business consulting, entrepreneurial grants and loan information and preparation assistance. Since the organization’s inception, HBIF has grown into a statewide enterprise, with offices in Orlando, Tampa and Miami and state headquarters co-located with the Orlando office.
HBIF services the needs of entrepreneurs in all stages of their growth and development. To date in FY 2015-2016, HBIF provided nearly 250 work hours to Hispanic owned businesses in the City limits, offered 33 business seminars, workshops and orientations and provided technical assistance to 48 Hispanic owned businesses in the City. HBIF also serves on the advisory board for the Minority/Women Entrepreneur Business Assistance (MEBA) The City's contribution of $150,000 will assist the HBIF in achieving their goals as defined in Exhibit "A" of the attached agreement.
The Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Florida, Inc. will receive additional funding ranging from $40,000 - $1.5 million from Osceola County, City of Kissimmee, Orange County, Seminole County, Miami-Dade County, Hillsborough County and the State of Florida this fiscal year. |