Tampa's Small Business Navigator Celebrates Two Years, Nearly 850 Businesses Helped News General, News Mayor Office With more than 840 local small businesses assisted in just[...]

With more than 840 local small businesses assisted in just two years, Tampa's Small Business Navigator is eager to help more.

After severe damages from Hurricane Milton shuttered the East Tampa Sandwich shop That's Wat'Sub for six weeks, owner Kathleen Jeanty feared her American Dream was unrecoverable. From sign damage to power surge problems and a broken oven, the small business owner and Haitian native faced the reality that her dream business she opened alongside her sister was destined for doom. But after reaching out to the City of Tampa's Small Business Navigator, Jeanty found the tools to recover, and today, her business is stronger than ever.

As small businesses and sole proprietors have been on the rise in recent years, the City of Tampa launched a small business support position called the Small Business Navigator in November 2023, with the goal of connecting Tampa entrepreneurs with resources needed to establish and scale their businesses. Two years later, the Small Business Navigator has assisted 845 clients.

"Since its inception two years ago, the Small Business Navigator has worked hard to support our entrepreneurs, allowing them to grow and transform their businesses into thriving local success stories," said Mayor Jane Castor. "This role has helped hundreds of Tampa business owners invest in their future to build a better Tampa."

Part of the Department of Economic Opportunity's team, the Small Business Navigator provides free services such as a 1:1 assessment, technical assistance, and connections with partner organizations such as the Tampa Bay Wave and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

For Jeanty, it was a connection with SBDC Hillsborough County that made all the difference for her sub shop with a Creole twist. Alongside consultant Shawn Ferguson, she was able to revamp her menu to create a lunch special, and connect with a local influencer, resulting in her most profitable month since the hurricane.

"Working with Kathleen to refine her pricing strategy was a great example of how small changes can make a big impact," said Shawn Ferguson, Business Consultant with the Small Business Development Center of Hillsborough County. "By using ingredient cost calculators, we were able to better align product pricing with true costs - helping improve profitability and long-term sustainability.

And with more small business growth, the need for the Small Business Navigator will continue. According to business data firm Data Axle, the number of small and mid-sized businesses - those with 500 or fewer employees - has been growing in Hillsborough County in recent years. Since 2021, more than 8,300 businesses have appeared in the Yellow Pages for the first time.