Selling to the Government

The state of Florida's eProcurement system, MyFloridaMarketPlace, is designed to streamline transactions between vendors and state government entities that purchase goods and services. Businesses register online. Also businesses that want to apply for minority business enterprise (MBE) certification can do so as part of the online registration process.

As of Sept. 30, 2009, more than 123,000 vendors, including more than 42,000 minority vendors, had registered with MyFloridaMarketPlace, which is part of the Florida Department of Management Services. And 32 state agencies using the system had placed more than 804,000 purchase orders and spent more than $7.5 billion.

Help for Women and Minorities

» Women's Business Centers
This nationwide network of centers, which are partly sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, helps women start and run successful businesses.

» WomenBiz.gov
The National Women's Business Council, a bipartisan federal advisory group, sponsors this site. It is designed to help women-owned businesses sell to the federal government.

» Florida Black Business Investment Corporations
This consortium of eight regional organizations provides financial and technical assistance to African-American-owned and other minority businesses. The BBIC helps to finance startups and expansions. Financing typically ranges from $50,000 to $300,000. The Black Business Investment Fund in Orlando is overseeing the state-funded Economic Gardening Business Pilot Loan Program, which was created in 2009 to provide loans of $50,000 to $250,000.

» Additional Assistance
Other entities that can provide helpful information for Florida's minority-owned businesses include the Black Business Investment Board, Hispanic Business Initiative Fund and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network.

Tags: Florida Small Business