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Overview of the Minority Business Enterprise Center
The Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC'") Program has helped thousands of minority
businesses in South Florida to start and grow since. 1982. Since 2002, and under the operation and
guidance of M. Gill & Associates with support from various community organizations and various
community support services, the Center has emerged to become the nation's leader in the provision
of managerial and technical assistance services in the U.S. Department of Commerce's network of
funded programs.
In 2008, the City of Miami became the primary strategic partner for the MSEC'', providing a range
of support services, including equipment, Internet and telephone support services, and office space
that ensures the program is headquartered in the City, as required by the federal MBDA. The South
Florida Regional Planning Council is the MBEC's strategic partner in Broward County, providing
office space and services in the City of Hollywood.
The MBEC' provides expert coaching, general counseling and hands-on technical support to some
300 minority firms in South Florida each year. The services include: Business plan development;
financial analysis and loan packaging, marketing plan and services; feasibility studies; SWOT
analysis and strategic planning; organizational development; minority certification; bid
preparation; procurement and loan sourcing; construction management; entrepreneurship training
services.
The MBEC" is the only program of its kind that offers management consulting and technical
assistance through a licensed Engineering/GC staff who provides hands on services to up -starts and
emerging companies in the construction industry. We provide a wide range of construction
services including daily sourcing of bid opportunities; estimating and bid preparation; building plan
reviews and bid take -offs; minority sub -contractor listings to prime contractors; capability
statements, and much more.
The MBEC' Program has achieved many milestones on behalf of small and minority firms,
including:
• . A growing database of over 6,200 MBEs throughout South Florida;
• Provided over 28,000 hours of management, coaching and technical consultation;
• Facilitated over $100 million in financial approvals;
Facilitated over $750 million in contract awards;
• Completed 6,300 business plans, loan packages, marketing plans, feasibility studies, and
SWOT Analyses.
The MBECI with support from its national sponsor, MBDA, continues to find alternate ways of
positioning small and minority firms to partner on large, ongoing contract opportunities locally and
statewide. For example, through a Memorandum of Understanding with HMS Host Corporation
(formerly Host Marriott), the MBEC'' is now the official technical assistance provider of technical
services to help local minority firms gain the ACDBE (Airport Concessions Disadvantage Business
Enterprise) Certification that qualifies them to participate as Retail Concessionaires in South
Florida's airports such as Miami International and major Highways, such as Florida's Turnpike.
The MBEC'" achieves its success as a program because of strong and experienced leadership of its
management coupled with the individual contributions, propelled by the genuine interest, concern
and tenacity of its consulting staff. The MBEC's management and staff present a beacon of hope for
many who feel that no one wants to take the time to address some of the painstaking steps that are
sometimes necessary to help a small and minority businesses achieve their goals.
The MBEC program in South Florida is like no other in the Country. For example, we have built
strategic partnering relationships with entities that religiously seek our help and support at their
regional and national conferences. For example, The National Alliance of Ford Minority Dealers has
consistently requested our participation as presenters at their regional and annual conferences to
share information and help to point their minority dealers in the right direction to better market
their products and gain procurement access through national minority certifications.
The MBEC' is host to the number one Minority Enterprise Development Week (MEDWeek)
program in the Southeast. MEDWeek is the federal government's annual minority business
conference, held in all regions throughout the U.S., usually during the fall season. MEDWeek offers
various business development and educational workshops and seminars, business matchmaker
opportunities between MBEs and government/corporate buyers and financial sources; networking
among MBEs and between MBEs and potential non -MBE business partners; an awards program
that honors our local outstanding small and minority firms and the advocates who support them;
and an atmosphere of support and advocacy for change and improvements in programs that are
designed to develop and grow minority firms in our community and the region.
The MBEC has built a strong relationship with various government and quasi -government entities
in supporting the implementation of programs that are designed to develop and grow small and
minority firms. For example: The City of Fort Lauderdale utilizes the MBEC for all of its business
planning needs for businesses wanting to access the CRA or other City programs; the City of
Lauderdale Lakes utilizes the MBEC for its Small Business Consulting Program, and the City of
Miami and Miami -Dade County utilize the MBEC to assist in implementing anti -poverty initiatives
and programs geared to develop and grow small/minority firms and create jobs.
Our multi-lingual staff of six full-time Consultants are all trained and Certified by the Tuck Institute
of Management at Dartmouth College. Our financial consultants have various licenses and have full
knowledge of all SBA loan guarantee programs, community-based revolving loan programs, and
special incentive programs such as Enterprise Zone programs offered by local cities and counties.
The MBEC hosts a free technical assistance seminar every Wednesday, except holidays, from 10:00
a.m. to 12:00 noon at its Miami location at 970 S.W.15t Street, Suites 405-406, Miami, Florida 33130,
Beginning March, 2009, the MBEC will begin hosting FREE business and financial planning seminar
on second and third Fridays from 6-8 p.m. at this location.
MBEC's On-going Seminar Schedule (except holidaysl
• Every Wednesday -10:00 a.m. -12:00 noon - Small Business Seminar - Business Planning;
Certification; Procurement Opportunities; SBA Loan programs; Start-up assistance; and
more.
• Second Fridays - 6-8 p.m. - Business and Financial Planning Seminar (In English) - Free of
Cost
• Third Fridays - 6-8 p.m. - Business and Financial Planning Seminar (In Spanish) - Free of
Cost
SUCCESS STORIES
Recent Success #1;
Of the 43 Minority Business Enterprise Centers in the United States, this South Florida Center is
number one in program performance categories for 2005, 2006 and 2007.
In 2005, the Center was the number one performer in achieving its goals for procuring the highest
number of contractual awards at the highest total value for that year. In that same year, the MBECTM'
was number one in Clients Served and Jobs Created.
In 2006, the MBEC'"° repeated that performance. In addition, the MBECTM was the highest regional
achiever in financial awards procured on behalf of minority firms, as well as the highest achiever in
number of clients served and hours of work performed.
The MBEC"" was recently honored by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce for being the national leader,
outperforming all Centers in the country for: No. of Clients Served; Value of Contract and Financial
Opportunities Procured for clients; No of Hours of Technical Assistance Provided; No. of Jobs
Created as a result of clients' successes; Formation of Strategic Partnering Relationships; and
Operation/ Management of a Federally Funded Program. The MBECTM' was honored for these
achievements in September 2008, by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Minority Business Development
Agency in Washington, DC.
Recent Success #2;
On January 1, 2009, the Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBECTM') was approved and
designated as an official Technical Assistance Provider, by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
This accomplishment means that the MBECTM is an approved Technical Assistance Provider (TAP)
for the SBA's Community Express Loan Program. Only approved TA providers can provide
technical assistance to loan applicants and complete and submit loan applications on behalf of small
businesses for the SBA's Community Express Loan Program, for financing up to $250,000.
This type of collaboration is highly regarded by the federal government, as it fits squarely into the
requirements of the program to constantly expand the base of expertise and opportunities for
minority firms in our community.
The MBEC'" received this approved as a result of our staff consultants' successful completion of the
SBA's extensive training programs that include financial analysis, understanding financial ratios,
role of the SBA and lending partners, and requirements and criteria for participation by small
businesses in the SBA's direct lending and loan guarantee programs.
This provides additional opportunities for the MBEC to provide technical assistance to tap into
programs such as the Community Express Loan Program, that are designed to help the small
businesses that face the greatest challenges in finding upstart capital and funding for other special
business needs.
Contact
Marie Gill
Program Director
Minority Business Enterprise Center
President & CEO - M. Gill & Associates
305.576.7888
Cell: 305.546.6225
Email: marie@mgiltonline.com