FreshMinistries - Building hope. Changing lives - Beaver Street Enterprise Center had a huge 2008, sets sights on bigger 2009

Monday, 26 January 2009

Beaver Street Enterprise Center had a huge 2008, sets sights on bigger 2009

The Beaver Street Enterprise Center (BSEC), a small business incubator in Northwest Jacksonville and a FreshMinistries initiative, has completed its 2008 year-in-review report. Included in the report are economic impact figures and tenant statistics. Among the key numbers for 2008:

23 tenants at year end
8 new tenants added in 2008
50 percent of BSEC businesses are women-owned
$16.5 million in revenues by BSEC clients
Over $4 million in payroll for all companies at BSEC

“That’s $16.5 million that wasn’t in that area before – that’s huge,” said The Rev. Dr. Robert V. Lee, III, chairman of FreshMinistries. “It’s a tax base and a lot of jobs, but it’s also a lot of hope for people.”

Achievements and recognitions for BSEC tenants in 2008 include Professional Firm of the Year by Minority Enterprise Development Week (MEDW) for A. Harold & Associates and Woman Owned Firm of the Year by MEDW for Huxtable Education Group.

In addition, BSEC director Jackie Perry was named SBA Champion of the Year and was a finalist in the EVE Awards.

In 2008, the BSEC hosted 92 workshops to help small businesses and offer job training, bringing in over 800 attendees.

For 2009, the BSEC plans to focus on growing its Venture Out Program; acquire an additional 6,000 square feet of office space; develop a state-of-the-art library, conference room and entrepreneurial center; and implement veteran and youth employment programs.

More about BSEC:

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