Business Assistance

Training & Counseling

• NEW! Downtown Entrepreneur Zone (E-Zone) - A public/private business accelerator initiative designed to connect start-up and second-stage company entrepreneurs with real estate and business support services to help them achieve greater success during these challenging economic times.
   
• Mayor’s Business Assistance Team - Connecting you to the appropriate City departments, serving as a liaison and ensuring that every effort is made to resolve business-related needs. 
   
• The Disney Entrepreneur Center - Dedicated to fostering the spark of a new business idea, supporting business growth and providing resources to small businesses in Central Florida.
   
• The University of Central Florida Downtown Technology Incubator - A downtown facility providing tools, training, infrastructure and more to start-up technology and other high growth companies.
   
• Orlando Business Development Center, District 2 - A business incubator that provides business coaching/mentoring, education and networking events, finance and accounting, technology and legal assistance, office operations, public relations and marketing and sales assistance.
   
• SCORE (Small Business Assistance) - Dedicated to entrepreneurial education and the formation, growth and success of small businesses.
   
• The Small Business Development Center - Assisting entrepreneurs in all stages of business, from prospective entrepreneurs to mature small businesses looking for growth opportunities.

Minority Business Assistance

• City of Orlando W/MBE Office  - Ensuring equal contracting opportunities for Minority and Women Business Enterprises (M/WBE).
   
• Hispanic Business Initiative Fund  - Providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs trying to establish or expand their business in Central Florida.
   
• Black Business Investment Fund  - Specializing in aiding minority business owners in building their management capacity and in accessing capital.

Permitting Information

• City of Orlando permit extensions and discounts - Helping accelerate planned construction and infrastructure projects.  These services include expediting the permitting and review process for several types of projects, providing payments plans for transportation and sewer impact fees and assisting homeowners onsite with non-structural work permits.

Business Opportunities

• City Bids
• City Bid procedure
• Public Works Bids
• Public Works Request for Qualification Statements
• Orlando International Airport bids
• Orlando Utility Commission bids
• Orange County School Board bids
• Community Venues procurement information
   

Business Resources

• Orlando Main Street Program - The Main Street program advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets. See their current newsletter
   
• Small Business Resource Guide - A resource guide designed to give an overview of what you need to know to start and operate a business in the City.
   
• The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission - Provides key services and support, which range from relocation and expansion expertise to export counsel to long-term planning.
   
• Green Works Orlando Business Program - Providing the Orlando business community with the tools and resources needed to shift policies, operations and materials in ways that save money, generate jobs and protect the environment.
   
• State of Florida Business links - Providing a one-page resource for information on taxes, State regulations, doing business in Florida and doing business with State agencies.
   
• Loan, Grants and Finances Search Tool - An online resource of federal and other grants and loans for businesses.
   

Business Discounts

• Downtown Parking Discount Validation Program - allows Downtown businesses to offer their patrons free validated parking. 407-246-2155
   
• Permit extensions - Extending all residential permits for an additional year at no cost to the homeowner.