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IRSC SBDC names Sunshine Kitchen Incubator Regina McCants its 2024 Regional Resource Partner of the Year
Summary
Indian River State College’s Small Business Development Center presented a Regional Resource Partner of the Year award to Regina McCants and the Sunshine Kitchen Incubator for work supporting food entrepreneurs on the Treasure Coast.
The Florida Small Business Development Center at Indian River State College recognized the Sunshine Kitchen Incubator and its director, Regina McCants, as the 2024 Regional Resource Partner of the Year during the St. Lucie County commission meeting on Sept. 16.
Tom Kindred, regional director for the SBDC at IRSC, told commissioners the center provides one-on-one credentialed consulting and training to entrepreneurs and that the Sunshine Kitchen partnership is “one of the most innovative partnerships within the Florida SBDC network,” linking county resources, an incubator and the SBDC to support local food entrepreneurs.
Kindred said the SBDC at IRSC is the smallest center in the state network but “punches above its weight,” serving a larger share of clients than federal funding formulas alone would predict. He cited 2024 metrics for the center: about 716 businesses served, more than 4,600 consulting hours, roughly $13 million in capital access obtained for clients and $84 million in government contracting results for clients (figures presented by Kindred during the award remarks).
Regina McCants accepted the award and thanked the county and SBDC partners. McCants recognized Maite (spelled in the meeting as "Mate") Santa Maria for leadership in the incubator’s work. Commissioners and staff posed for photos with incubator staff after the presentation.
Why it matters: The award highlights a public–nonprofit partnership that funnels technical assistance, shared kitchen facilities and consulting into food-business startups and expansions — a local economic development tool that can lower entry barriers for entrepreneurs, especially in food services.
What’s next: The SBDC said it will continue to work with county partners and the incubator to expand consulting and training; county staff acknowledged the incubator’s role and reiterated collaboration to support local business growth.
