Small Business Job Creation Program's Funds Still Available

From Hillsborough County Government Online:

Hillsborough County’s new Small Business Job Creation Program still has more than $265,000 available for small business owners to hire new employees.

The Board of County Commissioners approved the Small Business Job Creation Program, spearheaded by Commissioner Sandra L. Murman, on March 16.

The program is designed to promote job creation in Hillsborough County by offering a wage reimbursement to small business owners. The reimbursement would pay small businesses up to 50 percent of three months’ total salary for new jobs created, capped at $3,900 per new employee. It is estimated that this program will encourage the creation of approximately 200 jobs, offering a total of $500,000 to local small business owners.

Within the first week of accepting applications for the reimbursement incentive program, three local businesses were pre-approved to receive the reimbursements, allowing them to hire three new employees each. Currently, 40 businesses have now applied for the funds creating 73 new jobs.
 
"Businesses are taking advantage of these jobs, boosting efforts with many incentive packages to help them grow, locate, or hire in the community,"  Commissioner Murman said. “The program is still available and business owners can help us reduce unemployment by using this program for assistance to hire new workers.”

To qualify, small business owners have to attend a minimum of four hours of business workshops and/or counseling sessions and meet specific requirements, such as having 10 employees or less; jobs created must be full-time and last the required three-month employment period; businesses must have a Hillsborough County business tax receipt; new employees must be residents of Hillsborough County; businesses must be located in Hillsborough County; and businesses may be reimbursed for up to three created jobs. Additional requirements are listed on the program application.

Small business owners can download an application and more information from the Hillsborough County Small, Minority Business Development Section’s Web page at: www.hillsboroughcounty.org/econdev/. The applications will be accepted on a first-come/first-serve basis until the program funding runs out.

For additional information, contact the Hillsborough County Small, Minority Business Development Section at (813) 914-4028.