(ESCAMBIA COUNTY, F.L.) --- More small businesses are welcome in Escambia County.
That was the message Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brian Wyer brought to Escambia County Commissioners at the August 6 meeting, inviting officials to attend an upcoming event.
The Pensacola Supplier Development Exchange is Thursday, August 27, and offers the opportunity to bring purchasing managers to Pensacola, according to Wyer.
(Photo: Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brian Wyer invites BCC commissioners to upcoming small business event)
“Last year, the certified business enterprise system spent $980 million in the state of Florida on certified small businesses,” Wyer said. “If you look at a map of the state of Florida, you'll notice our area will receive less of those dollars than any other region throughout the state.”
The invitation led to questions by Commissioner Lumon May.
(Photo: Commissioner Lumon May seeks more data on small businesses registered in Escambia County at the August 6 meeting)
“Do we have any data or tracking of how many small businesses we've certified and how many of those are doing business with the county?” May asked.
Answer: Yes, but not available immediately, according to Wyer.
“We did a great job helping to register more businesses,” Myers said, adding certain demographics suffer. “We definitely want to improve those areas.”
Myers confirmed there is still “preferential preference for small local businesses of minority.”
Escambia County Purchasing Office Director Lyndsey Stevens confirmed recent small business numbers, not minority numbers for May.
(Photo: Escambia County Purchasing Office Director Lyndsey Stevens and Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brian Wyer)
“I can say that in the third quarter of this year we awarded one contract to a certified small business and in the second quarter we awarded four,” Stevens said.
May confirmed only five this year total. A 2023 Stacker report shows Escambia County at #26 out of the 50 ranked Florida counties for small businesses.
The report lists 7,399 small business establishments, equaling 22.9 per 1,000 residents.
(Photo: Stacker News Report on top small business counties in Florida, with Escambia ranking #26 in 2023)
“States where nonresidents are allowed to incorporate businesses will also have a higher ratio of small businesses to residents since not all small businesses are actually operated by people living in that state,” the report published on WFLA states.
Monroe County, Florida, has the most small businesses of all Sunshine State regions, with small business establishments totaling 4,009, which is 48.7 per 1,000 residents. Small Business Pensacola, a local Facebook group, lists nearly nine thousand members supporting one another. Only businesses are allowed to post on the social media site and must be approved by a moderator.
“No one supports small businesses like other small business owners,” according to the Facebook page. “Here you can discuss the outlook of the economy, your business questions, and are even allowed to promote your business.”
Wyer made it clear the upcoming event is a way to bring in more business.
“We have several out -of -town visitors attend the event,” Wyer said. “We have folks flying from New York, Miami, Texas, Louisiana to be here, because it's their one chance to see the state, regional, city, and county officials all in one place.”
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