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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MOU Formalizes the Relationship Between UWF’s
Florida
SBDC
Network
The consortium of Florida’s SBDC Network and Mexico’s small business counselors and directors grew out of their shared interests and goals. The Merida program has benefited from numerous training sessions over the years, in-depth discussions covering economic impact and other positive outcomes, and resource sharing. As the Mexican contingent became more knowledgeable in SBDC operations, principles/policies and programming, they also became regular participants in the FSBDCN Professional Development Conference held every summer in Florida and the Association of SBDCs' National Conference held in the fall. In 2001 the Gulf Coast States Economic and Educational Consortium was realized and it demonstrated their common interests and concerns. Thirteen Mexican institutions of higher education joined with the FSBDCN to enhance business-to-business trade between small businesses, form educational linkages and begin faculty/student exchanges. The training continued and they prepared to open their SBDC network in the Mexican technological universities. Training became more intense and in 2005 it switched to train-the-trainer status. Florida SBDC staff trained, observed and facilitated their strategic planning. Fortunately, staffers from mid- and south-Florida are proficient in Spanish. Later in 2005 representatives visited the SBDC at the University of South Florida in Tampa to observe and learn vicariously, but the purpose of the March 2006 training was to observe the Merida SBDC in action. Redesigned, it closely models the Florida Network and the Mexican attendance at their training sessions has been excellent. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) puts the Mexican Technologico System in the forefront of economic development. Further, it confers coordination responsibility to the Merida Technologico (ITM); implies strongly for future exchanges of faculty and students; involves the FSBDCN in future economic research (drawing the UWF Haas Center into the mix), consulting and training; identifies the FSBDC as the body to develop an evaluative tool for economic impact of the SBDCs in Mexico; and finally, indicates joint cooperation and development as a "good faith effort" on behalf of all parties to the MOU. Having been successful colleagues for these fifteen plus years, the MOU formalizes the relationship between all parties and evidences a successful future. The ultimate beneficiary will be the Florida and Mexican economy. |
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The Florida SBDC Network is a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development organizations dedicated to providing emerging and established business owners with assistance enabling overall growth and increased profitability that contributes to the economic prosperity of the state. For more information about the FSBDCN, visit our website at www.FloridaSBDC.com. The FSBDCN is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the US Small Business Administration. |
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