Making Connections – From Our Start

Who We Are…

Established in 2011, the Florida 8(a) Alliance came about with the idea of giving back to the community that assisted Andy Harold in the establishment of his small business. Firmly establishing itself as a reputable small business resource, the Alliance provides “real deal” and “lessons learned” information to small businesses interested in federal contracting.

Whether its to learn more about getting 8(a) certified, doing business in the Federal Marketplace or just looking for networking opportunities, the Florida 8(a) Alliance supports all businesses.

What We Do…

Training, education, and networking is the core focus of w hat the Florida 8(a) Alliance is all about. Industry experts from government agencies, large business partners, consultants, universities, and other small businesses are continually cultivated to share their knowledge in a variety of training environments.

What we’ve done…

The first task the Florida 8(a) Alliance undertook was to organize a federal contracting conference, bringing together government representatives, and small and large businesses. Expecting only 75 participants, they received over 120+. Seeing the enthusiasm, the need to educate small businesses and provide networking opportunities, the Alliance continued with ongoing support through a monthly newsletter and webinars. And each year, the reach and partnerships have increased.

The Alliance has been the recipient of $350,000 in grant funds from the Florida Defense Support Task Force, subcontracted with NMSDC on an SBA grant, and contracted with the Jacksonville Chamber and the Florida SBDC Network to provide training to small businesses.