The Florida SBDC at FIU, the small business development center within the FIU College of Business, has expanded its partnership with the Florida SBDC Network and will now work with small business owners in the Florida Keys.

Margie Smith has joined the Florida SBDC at FIU team as the Keys-based consultant. She will work with business owners and entrepreneurs in Monroe County to address the challenges of launching and growing small businesses.

“We are excited about the opportunity to help businesses in the Keys grow and succeed,” said Jacqueline Bueno Sousa, regional director of the Florida SBDC at FIU. “In particular, we look forward to working with businesses still trying to recover from Hurricane Irma. Access to capital, along with disaster planning and recovery, will be major areas of focus in the region.”

Smith, formerly CEO of the United Way of the Florida Keys, has worked in the banking and investment management sectors as well in the aviation and public relations fields.

The Florida SBDC at FIU offers business owners and entrepreneurs no-cost, one-on-one business advisory services in areas such as access to capital, growth strategies, marketing, financial management, disaster planning, and more.

Since it began in 2014, the College of Business’ Florida SBDC at FIU has helped launch more than 120 businesses in Miami-Dade County and assisted local entrepreneurs and small-business owners in creating or retaining 7,656 jobs; generating $1.07 billion in increased sales; acquiring $52.5 million in government contracts; and accessing $109 million in capital.

“Through our partnership with FIU, we will continue our mission to assist aspiring and existing small businesses in the Florida Keys,” said Michael W. Myhre, CEO of the Florida SBDC Network. “We are excited about the opportunity to bring additional expertise to the region and look forward to the success of our partnership in the years ahead.”