Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development Small Business topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
SBDC reports local capital wins, Sunshine Rail success story; asks county for website link
Summary
Rick Paul of the Small Business Development Center updated commissioners on regional outcomes, a local rail‑repair business success story and upcoming workshops; he requested a direct link to SBDC from the county website to improve outreach.
Rick Paul, regional representative for the Small Business Development Center that serves Putnam County, briefed commissioners on May 13 about recent business assistance activity, capital raised and local success stories.
Regional and local results: Paul reviewed statewide and regional statistics for 2024 and reported that his local office assisted clients that collectively secured $2,550,000 in capital in the most recent period he showed. Paul highlighted a local small business success story: Sunshine Rail Service Rail Cars, a rail‑car repair company formed by three partners that had no sales when it started and is now reported at about $1.3 million in sales with 10 employees; while the presentation was being drafted the business reportedly secured an additional $2 million contract and is planning to purchase land to expand operations.
Workshops and outreach: Paul said the SBDC has run multiple workshops and networking events and that the SBA has visited the county; upcoming workshops include disaster‑preparedness for small businesses. He asked the county to add a direct link to the SBDC on the county website and to help promote a large small‑business social networking event bringing lenders, attorneys and marketing partners together.
Board response: commissioners praised the collaboration among the SBDC, chambers and local governments and asked staff to arrange a county website link and to provide copies of missing presentation slides to the board.
