fmu-sam_web.jpgMIAMI – The U.S. Small Business Administration signed a strategic alliance memorandum with Florida Memorial University Nov. 19 to promote entrepreneurship both on and off the Miami Gardens campus.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony with Florida Memorial Interim President Dr. Roslyn Artis and SBA South Florida District Director Francisco “Pancho” Marrero at the University’s Lou Rawls Center for The Performing Arts.                 

Through the alliance, the SBA South Florida District Office and FMU will work together to serve students interested in business ownership and to also address the needs of historically underserved small businesses throughout the Miami Gardens area.

“Knowledge, exposure and opportunity are critical elements in our student’s success,” said Artis.  “At Florida Memorial University, we believe in developing strategic, partnerships so that our students have the benefits of real world experience in addition to theoretical knowledge.”

Though the first of its kind in South Florida, this alliance is the latest in a series of similar agreements between SBA and historically black colleges and universities located throughout SBA’s eight-state southeastern region.  FMU is the only historically black university in southern Florida.

“The purpose of these alliances is to educate today’s youth, minority students of the entrepreneurial opportunities that exist today and to connect these students with resources that can help to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams. This initiative is not meant only for business school students, but to all of the students within the college or university,”   said Marrero. SBA South Florida District looks forward to working with its new partner.

“Alliances such as this one with Florida Memorial University will provide a new generation of entrepreneurs awareness and access to the wide range of SBA resources to create new businesses and jobs here,” said Marrero.

For the university, the partnership extends beyond campus grounds. “We are particularly pleased to share this opportunity with our Miami-Garden’s neighbors.” said Artis.  

PHOTO COURTESY OF SBA
WORKING TOGETHER: Florida Memorial Interim President Dr. Roslyn Artis and SBA South Florida District Director Francisco “Pancho” Marrero sign a strategic alliance memorandum at the University’s Lou Rawls Center for The Performing Arts while FMU business students look on.