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What
is a HUBZone?_______________________________
The
Federal Small Business Association's (SBA) HUBZone Empowerment
Contracting program provides federal contracting opportunities
for qualified small businesses located in distressed areas.
Fostering the growth of these federal contractors as viable
businesses, for the long term, helps to empower communities,
create jobs, and attract private investment.
Small
firms participating in the program can receive competitive
advantages in winning federal contracts. Three percent of
all federal contracting dollars should be awarded to HUBZone
firms annually.
Census
Tracts 0001.02, 0002.00, and 0003.00, located in the City
of Sarasota, are designated as a HUBZone. The HUBZone boundaries
include the Sarasota Enterprise Zone and an area south to
Mound St. and east to Sarasota Bay. If you would like to determine
if your business is located within the HUBZone, the SBA web
site allows you to enter your company's address, then it will
tell you if you are in a HUBZone. You can access this site
from www.sba.gov/hubzone/.
How
the HUBZone Program Works___________________
The
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) regulates and implements
the program, determines which businesses are eligible to receive
HUBZone contracts, maintains a listing of qualified HUBZone
small businesses Federal agencies can use to locate vendors,
adjudicates protests of eligibility to receive HUBZone contracts,
and reports to the Congress on the program's impact on employment
and investment in HUBZone areas.
Eligibility_________________________________________
A
small business meets all of the following criteria to qualify
for the Hubzone program:
-
it must be located in a "historically underutilized
business zone,"
- it must be owned and controlled by one or more U.S.
Citizens, and
- at least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUB Zone.
How
can my business become HUBZone certified?_____
The
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University
of South Florida's Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Program (PTAC) helps Florida small businesses interested in
applying for HUBZone certification and assists with the process
to obtain contracts with the Department of Defense and other
other federal agencies. Assistance is also provided for contracting
with state/local government agencies and participating prime
contractors.
Counseling
is provided free of charge to any Florida firm. For assistance,
Sarasota HUBZone businesses should contact:
University of South Florida
The Pinellas Park Technical Services Building
6051 78th Ave., Pinellas Park, Florida 33780
Carol Bowers, PTAC Specialist
(727) 541-0805 ext. 2108
E-mail: cbowers@coba.usf.edu
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