About Us
Specialized, hyperlocal consultants in your neighborhood
Florida’s 27th Congressional District encompasses the City of Miami, Coral Gables and runs south through Westchester and Kendall to Cutler Bay. According to 2019 Census estimates, of Miami-Dade County’s over 86,000 business establishments, 33,000 reside in District 27. Whether the businesses are retail, construction, restaurant/hospitality or professional services, all were impacted in some way by the pandemic and still need assistance with growth and pivoting their businesses.
To address these key needs in FL-District 27, the Florida Small Business Development Center (FSBDC) at Florida International University has secured funding from the U.S. Business Administration (SBA) to expand its successful Business Growth and Acceleration Program (BizGap) to District 27. BizGap will dedicate business consultants to assist small businesses located within District 27 with in-community and in-language consulting and training in key areas, such as government contracting, access to capital, financial literacy, and startup assistance. This community-focused approach will help District 27 small businesses start, grow and succeed.
Register today to set up a no-cost consultation so we can learn more about you and your business. After that, we can connect you to consulting, training, or access to other critical resources in the community.
Services
Local consultants, community events and resources to help your small business start, grow and succeed
There are a number of barriers local entrepreneurs face when looking to start or grow their businesses. Whether it is overcoming language or cultural barriers to entry, accessing government programs or opportunities, or connecting local businesses with industry experts in the community, BizGap is here for you. Our program has three key components:
» One-on-One Business Assistance
» Community Trainings and Neighborhood Canvassing
» Connectivity to Small Business Networking, Resources, and Information
Services and trainings are available in English, Spanish, and Kreyol. Critical resources and assistance you can access include:
Startup Assistance
Financial Management and Access to Capital Assistance
Marketing/Sales, Business Strategy, and Operations
Government Contracting and
Procurement Assistance
Industry-specific training
Consultants
Emily de Armas
Expertise:Digital Marketing, E-Commerce, Social Media Marketing
Languages:
English & Spanish
Michelle Caba
Expertise:Business Development, Brand Development, Marketing, Sales Coaching, Strategic Planning
Languages:
English & Spanish
Maribel Balbin
Expertise:Government Contracting, Business Development, Licenses / Permits, Vendor Certifications
Languages:
English & Spanish
Rubert Velasquez
Expertise:Strategic Business Development, Revenue Management, Corporate Negotiations, Import-Export operation
Languages:
English & Spanish
Upcoming Events
Partners
Client Successes
Coming Soon
In the News
The latest BizGap news
We’re excited about the BizGap program, and so is the media! Check back here for updates and news, and reach out to
BizGap@fiu.edu
with questions or requests.
FL-District 27 News
Salazar Secures Funding for Small Businesses Alongside FIU
Ayuda para los emprendedores de negocios
Salazar Launches BizGap Small Business Development Program after Securing $650,000 in Funding
Past BizGap News
$64M in new federal funding propels defense, environment and health research at FIU
Florida SBDC at FIU Partners with Miami DDA to grow downtown businesses.
With Florida SBDC at FIU’s help, small business success stories thrive in North Miami Beach
Contact
Connect with us!!!
Address:
FIU Downtown at Brickell
1101 Brickell Avenue, South Tower
Suite 300
Miami, FL 33131
Email Us:
Email:
bizgap@fiu.edu
Call Us:
Call: (305) 779-9232