The E-Zone is a business accelerator initiative designed to bring together start-ups and second-stage companies with the real estate and business support services of the area.  This can involve lower-than-market renting rates, or even free rent with the trade of a company’s services.  The E-Zone has been getting rolling since March, and is sponsored by Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty.  Mayor Buddy Dyer is a large supporter and developer of the initiative, and hopes that it will fill up the offices that have been left empty in the city due to the recession.

YourOffice USA, Canin & Associates, and Stirling Sotheby’s itself have already pledged the use of their space to prospective entrepreneurs.  Renderings.com, a marketing/consulting firm involved in the technologically advanced end of the Real Estate and Hospitality markets, is the first company to take advantage of the Zone.  They offered up their services to Stirling Sotheby’s in lieu of rent for moving into the Global Gallery, gaining access to a city full of clientele eager to bounce back from previous hardships.

Entrepreneurs thinking of applying for the program should have a product/service that would benefit from a downtown environment, and still be in the early stages of their company’s development.  The entrepreneur should also be willing to remain in the Downtown Orlando area if accepted.  Willingness to participate in E-Zone training programs and networking events is also expected, and required.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, non-profit membership organization focused on the survival and revitalization of our nation’s diverse historical places and communities, through leadership, education, advocacy and resource availability.  Its Main Street Program was specifically developed to target central commercial districts of towns and cities, implementing effective strategies to achieve the goals and values of the larger organization.

The program is designed around a four pronged approach: organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring.  The organization quadrant of the plan requires the entire community to fall in line on the same page and work towards the same objectives.  This includes not only coordinating the human aspect of the effort, getting the right people in the right places, but also securing the financial capital to make revitalization a realistic possibility.

The promotion aspect of the program centers around a unified marketing message urging consumers and investors alike to choose the developing district as a destination for their business, shopping and entertainment options.  Integrated marketing campaigns across multiple channels both provide awareness about the area’s improvements and emphasize the unique characteristics that benefit the urban center, differentiating it from the greater community.

An import part of enticing visitors to the district lies in the aesthetic appeal of the area.  This is where the design prong comes into play, taking advantage of scenic or historically significant buildings, renovating older structures and making the area itself more accessible and pedestrian friendly.

Economic restructuring allows for the existing businesses housed in the upgraded commercial district to remain competitive, while recruiting successful companies and aspiring entrepreneurs to launch new business ventures in the vicinity, limiting unused commercial space thus making the district more profitable.

The Small Business Development Center counseled over 2,600 clients last year, helping them turn their ideas into a reality.  This also helped to support the local economy by creating or retaining over 1,627 jobs.  One on one counseling sessions area provided free of charge by the SBDC and can be personalized and tailored to each individual entrepreneurial situation.  The topics, concepts and ideas discussed in each session are guaranteed to remain completely confidential.  Because of the timely nature of some new business endeavors, this policy helps to ensure that no one will steal or piggyback your proposal and beat you to the punch.  The benefit of a second set of eyes and the wisdom of an experienced second opinion can be of assistance to any entrepreneur, even in the initial concepting phase of the business plan.  Counselors are private and public sector professionals fully competent to address a wide variety of client needs.  The technical know-how and logistics behind actually getting a business up and running is often elusive to aspiring entrepreneurs, but the Small Business Development Center can help to lay out practical steps to get your business off the ground, in addition to putting you in contact with the right people to smooth the process.

The Disney Entrepreneur Center provides a single location, conveniently situated on East Robinson St. in downtown Orlando, where a multitude of business assistance and development organizations can be housed together, making it easy on entrepreneurs to find the aid and advice they need without driving all around town.  While the name “Entrepreneur Center” might lead you to believe the organization caters only to the needs of new business initiatives, the DEC is willing and able to provide assistance to business owners at any stage of their company’s development, whether it’s the initial business plan or how to close a company’s doors in the most financially and socially responsible way possible.  The wide variety of service providers with offices at the DEC complex offer a diversity of resources, with programs specifically targeting middle-market and high-growth businesses as well.  While headquartered in Orlando, the DEC has recently expanded its services to better account for the wider scoped needs of the entire sunshine state.  Through partnerships with other groups across the state and an ever increasing online presence of internet information and assistance, the center is now accessible to anyone and everyone.  Most general services are available to the public free of charge, while there may be a nominal fee for some seminars hosted by the center.  Individual organizations housed at the DEC may charge their own individual membership fees as well.

Black Business Investment Fund – The BBIF is a nonprofit lending institution that helps African American business owners gain the necessary capital to fund their small business enterprise through the provision of direct loans and loan guarantees.  The organization also helps small business owners by working to develop education, training, investment and networking programs.  The BBIF has provided over $25 million in minority business loans and created over 3100 sustained jobs for the Central Florida community.

Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Florida– The HBIF is a nonprofit economic development organization that emphasizes the development of bilingual businesses by Hispanic entrepreneurs.  The goal of the group is to use the power of economic development as a catalyst for positive community change through the promotion of Hispanic-owned businesses.   Free seminars, technical assistance, and business financial aid are all available to Hispanic entrepreneurs across the state as part of the HBIF’s services.

Minority/Women Business Enterprise Alliance – Among its many services, this nonprofit business resource center provides seminars and workshops, contract matchmaking, community advocacy and partnership opportunities with other technical assistance providers across local state and federal levels.  The Alliance can provide entrepreneurial assistance of almost any kind to both women and minority business owners, also including access to start-up capital and individual, case-by-case consulting.

Orlando sets itself apart from other cities in the Sunshine State through the Mayor’s Business Assistance Team.  This organization was specifically established in order to make the city an appealing and easily accessible location for new business development.  The BAT provides entrepreneurs new to the area with policies and procedures specific to Orlando, minimizing potential delays and easing the process, allowing start -up companies to open their doors with as little difficulty as possible.  The group also helps to keep developing businesses on track and meeting deadlines, both personal and contractual, by serving as an informational liaison.  From fire codes to zoning regulations, there is a lot of city-specific information any entrepreneur must take note of, no matter where he or she decides to open for business.  The Mayor’s Business Assistance Team is just another reason why a lot of new business developers continue to call Orlando home.