Information being shared on behalf of Chair Gonzalez

  1. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Awards AEO $1.9 Million Grant to Advance Technology Platform that Connects Small Businesses to Community Lenders
  2. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Commits $75 Million to Increase Access to Capital for Women, Minority and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
  3. Florida SBDC Network Releases Inaugural Small Business Survey Results

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Awards AEO $1.9 Million Grant to Advance Technology Platform that Connects Small Businesses to Community Lenders
As those of you who have been following AEO's TILT Forward Initiative know, we have been working diligently with partners and stakeholders to develop shared industry infrastructure that meets the needs of small business owners, community organizations, lenders and investors so that the nation's financial system works for Main Streets inevery community.
Today, we are delighted to share the news that JPMorgan Chase & Co. is awarding AEO a $1.9 million grant to support the advancement of our technology-enabled platform that connects small businesses owners with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) when the business is unable to qualify for a traditional loan. This generous contribution builds on the seed money provided for the solution by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through its inaugural CDFI Fund Innovation Challenge.
In 2015, the CDFI Fund invited proposals to develop "a method, model, tool, or product that CDFIs can use to expand investment flows into underserved target markets." AEO won the challenge with a proposal to develop proof of concept for a technology-enabled solution to screen applicants that lenders are not able to serve and match them to products and services offered through CDFIs. For the last year, AEO's team has worked with leading CDFIs; referral partners including Woodforest Bank and OnDeck, (bank and nonbank lenders that agreed to help us demonstrate proof of concept); the CDFI Fund and many other stakeholders to design and build a viable solution.
Building on the successful proof of concept phase, we are excited now to collaborate with JPMorgan Chase to advance the next phase of development. We share a vision with JPMorgan Chase to see this technology-enabled platform become broadly adopted; drive productivity improvements within CDFIs; and result in a robust and dynamic referral marketplace that connects small business owners to responsible products and services delivered in ways that best meet their needs.
AEO's referral solution is where "access to capital" and technology intersect to serve small business owners when they are unable to qualify for traditional loans. For banks and nonbank lenders, we're creating a scalable referral program that enables them to efficiently and effectively connect the most challenging applicants to CDFIs while retaining the customer relationship and being able to track outcomes for that client. For CDFIs, this marketplace is a source of qualified lead generation. And most importantly, we are building this referral solution to connect small business owners to capital and services to help them grow and hire!
We are delighted by the opportunity to partner with JPMorgan Chase to advance solutions that will change the way that capital flows to underserved small business owners. If you are interested in engaging with us to expand this solution, simply sign up here.
Questions about AEO, the Tilt Forward Initiative generally or the referral platform specifically can be directed to Connie Evans, President and CEO, AEO at or Tammy Halevy, Senior Vice President, New Initiatives, AEO at .
PRESS RELEASE
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Commits $75 Million to Increase Access to Capital for Women, Minority and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
New York, NY - October 17, 2016 -JPMorgan Chase is more than doubling the size of its globalSmall Business Forwardprogram, it announced today, by committing $75 million over the next three years to support women, minority and veteran-owned small businesses.This includesa $1.9 million grant to the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) to support its programs to connect small business owners with alternative funding sources when they are unable to qualify for traditional loans.
"We are pleased to receive this grant from JPMorgan Chase and look forward to advancing our work tomake it faster and easier for small businesses to connect with local CDFI partners devoted to providing targeted capital and trusted guidance," saidConnie Evans, President and CEO, Association for Enterprise Opportunity."This supports our vision to change the way capital and services flow to Main Street."
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Media Contacts:
Dianne Gross Hafleigh
(850) 898-3486

October 19, 2016
For Immediate Release
Florida SBDC Network Releases InauguralSmall Business Survey Results
Small businesses report increased performance and outlook,cite economic uncertainty top issue
Florida SBDC Network Headquarters (Pensacola, Fla.) -The Florida SBDC Network, the state's principal provider of business assistance, today released the results of the inaugural Florida Small Business Confidence Index.
The key findings from the survey, administered to a select group of small businesses who utilized the services of the Florida SBDC in 2015, suggest that the state's small businesses are experiencing increased optimism and performance, yet still are facing a host of challenges, including economic uncertainty and finding quality applicants.
Michael Myhre, CEO and Network State Director of the Florida SBDC, highlighted the importance of the findings, saying, "Previous research has revealed access to capital as the top issue for Florida's small businesses. As a network, we have focused efforts to ensure that small businesses have the resources and expertise to access the capital they need to grow and succeed. This study confirms progress has been made on this front, but it also shows that we can expand economic progress by ensuring more entrepreneurs and small businesses have the confidence to make major hiring and investment decisions."
Economic concerns continue
The results suggest that economic uncertainty continues to loom as an important issue facing small businesses, with only half of respondents indicating that Florida's economy will grow over the next year (51 percent agree or strongly agree). When asked what the top issues facing Florida's small businesses today, about a third indicated economic uncertainty, 20 percent identified workforce quality, and 17 percent expressed concern over access to capital.
Finding quality applicants ranks high as top hiring concern
On the topic of hiring obstacles, finding quality applicants was the top concern (32 percent). Businesses cited a mix of absent soft and hard skills, excessive pay expectations, inexperience, and a small applicant pool.
Optimistic business outlook
Despite economic concerns, 56 percent of small businesses reported increased sales and a large majority (86 percent) indicated they expected sales to increase over the next year. Interestingly, the survey results suggest that Florida businesses are more likely to report future hiring plans than those nationally. Fifty-two percent of respondents indicated they anticipate hiring additional employees over the next year compared to 12 percent nationally as reported in the May National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Economic Trends report.
The inaugural Florida Small Business Confidence Index was conducted electronically by the Florida SBDC Network, in partnership with University of West Florida College of Business researchers Drs. Justin L. Davis, associate professor for the UWF Department of Management and Management Information Systems, and Richard R. Hawkins, professor for the UWF Department of Marketing and Economics.
The survey was conducted July through August 2016. The survey will be administered quarterly to understand entrepreneurial attitudes to the state's business climate to improve Florida SBDC service delivery.
To view the report, please click here.
About the Florida SBDC Network:
The Florida SBDC Network, the state's principal provider of business assistance, is celebrating its 40thanniversary in 2016. Since its inception, the Florida SBDC Network has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide emerging and established business owners with management and technical assistance, enabling overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for the state.Since 2011, Florida SBDCs have provided 401,475 hours of consulting to 45,502 client businesses, resulting in 217,849 jobs created, retained and saved; $29.3 billion in sales growth; $2.1 billion in government contract awards; $947.4 million in capital investments; and 3,857 new businesses started.A statewide network of over 40 centers, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida and other private and public partners, with the University of West Florida serving as the network's designated lead host institution. The Florida SBDC Network is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs.For more information, please visit
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