Featured
Grants, Growth, & Workforce. Florida entrepreneurs have several powerful funding opportunities to boost their business this season! From digital readiness and local microloans to export expansion, these grants can take your business to the next level. Economic update: Florida has reached a major milestone, now ranking as the 15th largest economy in the world. ICYMI, we’re also sharing takeaways from the recent CityClips Live episode with Jim McShane, Co-CEO of CareerSource Capital Region. In observance of Veterans Day, we’ll be taking a short break tomorrow to honor those who served. We’ll be back on Wednesday–see you then! ✨
Quick Summary
For our motivational Monday + 517th issue, here’s what we’ve got:
Grants: Funding Opportunities for FL Businesses
Florida Strong: State Economy Ranks 15th Globally
CityClips Live Recap: Jim McShane
Featured: Focus Blocks | Live Focus Guide
Networking + Business Events
GRANTS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIZ
Image Source: SBDC, Verizon, & FAMU
💡 Fueling Small Business Growth: Funding Opportunities You Can’t Miss
✅ Since 2021, Verizon’s Digital Ready initiative has awarded more than $14M in grants to U.S. small businesses. This grant not only provides direct funding but also encourages business owners to engage in digital-skills training and resources.
Who can apply?
For-profit small businesses based in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nonprofits are not eligible.
Business owner must be 18+ years old.
Applicant must complete two eligible courses or virtual events (until December 10) through the Digital Ready platform to unlock the application. | Apply
✅ FAMU Federal Credit Union (FAMU FCU) SmartSteps Micro-Loan program is a microlending initiative for small businesses in Leon County created by FAMU FCU in partnership with the Leon County Office of Economic Vitality (OEV), with the goal to provide access to capital (up to $50k) for minority and women-owned for-profit businesses.
What to do if you’re interested:
Confirm your business meets eligibility (51% minority/women ownership, location, for-profit status).
Outline how the loan will be used (capital, equipment, inventory) and how it may lead to job impacts.
Attend the mandatory informational Zoom meeting (held weekly) to learn about the application process. | Register
✅ Florida SBDC’s STEP (State Trade Expansion Program) Grant program helps Florida-based small businesses export or expand international trade by reimbursing eligible costs tied to export activities.
Who can apply? A business must meet both federal and Florida-specific requirements. Key criteria include:
U.S. small business (meets SBA size standards) and in business at least 1 year.
Based in Florida: active on Florida’s corporate registry, with Federal ID tied to a Florida address.
Manufacturing/producing/value-adding in Florida; either “new to export” or seeking market expansion.
FLORIDA STRONG
ECON RANKED 15TH
Image Source: Canva
📈 Florida’s Economic Rise: Now 15th Largest in the World. | Florida Trend
According to the Florida Chamber Foundation, if Florida were a country, it would now rank as the 15th largest economy in the world, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeding $1.7T. 🤩
Florida has moved up from 16th to 15th in global economy rankings, having surpassed countries such as Spain. The state is now just about $25.5B behind Australia, the economy currently ranked 14th.
This achievement reflects steady progress under the state’s long-term strategic plan, the Florida 2030 Blueprint, which set the goal of being a top 10 global economy by 2030. | Florida 2030 Blueprint Halftime Report Overview
Implications:
The growth underscores Florida’s strength in attracting new business start-ups, expanding its workforce (now over 10M workers), and reducing childhood poverty through targeted initiatives.
Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and workforce leaders are part of a fast-rising economic engine and the growing opportunities across industries as Florida’s visibility rises on the global stage.
🤓 Want a deeper dive into Florida's economic future? Join the Florida Chamber Foundation’s virtual 2026 Economic Outlook & Jobs Solution Summit on January 29. Gain insights from top economists, industry experts, and Florida’s job creators to guide strategic planning. | Register
CC LIVE RECAP
JIM MCSHANE
Image Source: JH Creative
🎙️ Jim McShane on CityClips Live Ep. 102.
Julia had the pleasure of featuring Jim McShane, the Co-CEO of CareerSource Capital Region. | CityClips Live Ep. 102
CareerSource Capital Region (CSCR) is a workforce development organization serving Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, and Wakulla counties. It connects job seekers with training, education, and employment opportunities while helping local businesses find skilled talent to grow their workforce.
Here are the takeaways of his interview with Julia:
CSCR partners with The Alliance of Entrepreneur Resource Organizations (AERO) to advance regional workforce development and economic growth. This collaboration aligns training programs, business support, and employment initiatives with the needs of local industries and entrepreneurs.
The local job market has more openings than available workers, creating a talent shortage across many industries. Employers are encouraged to adapt recruiting strategies, provide training, and partner with workforce organizations like CSCR to attract and retain skilled talent.
🩵 Leadership Advice from Jim: Be flexible and embrace change, adapt positively to life’s uncertainties, and focus on work that aligns with your passions. Everyone has value, but true success comes from pursuing what’s close to your heart.
FEATURED
Image Source: Focus Blocks
Focus Blocks | Live Focus Guide
Focus Blocks is a live, online co-working platform where participants join scheduled “blocks,” typically held every hour, led by a trained Focus Guide.
Each session includes a short ritual to prepare your mind, 50 minutes of distraction-free deep work, and a brief recharge to celebrate progress.
The Focus Guide facilitates the opening and closing segments of each session, monitors participation (such as keeping cameras on and managing audio), and helps maintain structure and accountability—while each participant works independently on their own tasks.
🎯 Join a live Focus Block and finally check off the things that truly matter.
EVENTS
NETWORKING + BUSINESS
Image Source: The Economic Club of Florida
Veterans Day | Tuesday, Nov. 11
The 4th Annual Memorial to Memorial Veterans Day 5K | 8 AM | Starting at the Vietnam Memorial
$25 Pre-registration with T-shirt (First 150 registrants are guaranteed shirt) | Closes today, November 10 at 5:59 PM, $35 Onsite Registration
Parade starts at 10:40 AM | Viewing area: South Monroe St. from the intersection of Tennessee St., a right on Madison St. and ending at Duval St.
Annual Veterans Day Festival in the Park (includes the 11th Hour Ceremony) | 11 AM | Vietnam Memorial | Learn More
Thursday, Nov. 13
Budgeting & Forecasting for Your Business by Florida SBDC at FAMU | Thursday, Nov. 13 | 5:30 PM | Florida SBDC at FAMU, 625 E. Tennessee St. (Hybrid: Online & In-Person) | Register
TechTracks with IGNITE Tallahassee and Danfoss Turbocor by IGNITE | Thursday, Nov. 13 | 9 AM | 1729 W. Paul Dirac Dr. | $7 Tickets | Learn More
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Featured Event: The Economic Club of Florida presents Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Chief Counsel of Government and Public Affairs & Executive Director, Americans for the Arts Action Fund | Tuesday, Nov. 18 | 11:30 AM | Dunlap Champions Club, 225 Champions Way Building B | Virtual Onsite Registration
Tuesday to Thursday, Nov. 18 to 20
Impact Week TLH | Tuesday to Thursday, Nov. 18 to 20 | 8 AM | Challenger Learning Center, 200 S. Duval St. | From $59 Tickets | Learn More
Wednesday, Nov. 19
Florida Aging Summit by News Service Florida | Wednesday, Nov. 19 | 8:30 AM | DoubleTree by Hilton Tallahassee, 101 S. Adams St. | From $59.34 Tickets | Learn More
Tally Devs November Meetup | Wednesday, Nov. 19 | 6:30 PM | Momo's Pizza, 1641 W. Pensacola St. | Free
Thursday, Nov. 20
November Innovations & Libations featuring Podfest by Domi | Thursday, Nov. 20 | 5:30 PM | Domi Station, 914 Railroad Ave. | Free Reserve a Spot
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Holiday Potluck at Domi Station | Wednesday, Dec. 3 | 6 PM | Domi Station, 914 Railroad Ave. | Free
Friday, Dec. 5
Florida’s Rural Business Resource Tour: Gadsden by Florida SBDC | Friday, Dec. 5 | 3 PM | Gadsden Center - TSC, 223 Pat Thomas Pkwy | Free Register
Thursday, Jan. 22
Save the Date: PS27 Entrepreneurship Awards | Thursday, Jan. 22 | 5 PM | St. John Event Center, 12760 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville | From $175 Tickets
COMING SOON
Image Source: JH Creative
Get ready for our 103rd episode on LinkedIn or YouTube, powered by JH Creative. We are excited to have Ana Melendez, CEO of A&E Wholesale. Got questions? Join us live!
- Team CityClips ([email protected])
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