2020 HIGHLIGHTED ACHIEVEMENTS
CLIENT ENGAGEMENT SNAPSHOT
TOTAL ENGAGEMENTS
0
Client interactions and engagements through The Greenhouse’s services and events.
UNIQUE CLIENTS SERVED
0
Individual entrepreneurs serviced through consultation sessions, capacity building opportunities and staff assisted services.
TOTAL EVENTS
0
Capacity building workshops and connection related events held in 2020 by The Greenhouse.
CLIENT DEMOGRAPHICS
Location
71 Cities
12 States
71% St. Pete-based
Gender
56.2% Female
30.7% Male
13.1% No Response
Race
50.1% White
23.5% Black
6% Hispanic
2.2% Asian
Other
90 Veteran Clients Served
74 Disabled Clients Served
DEMOGRAPHICS SUMMARY:
The Greenhouse is maintaining a consistent reach among targeted client locations. Both in 2019 and 2020, the client locations remain steady at 71% primarily located in St. Petersburg. The Greenhouse does not limit support services to residents or businesses located within City of St. Petersburg municipal boundaries due to the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program participation in the five county region, but also, with the intent to attract start-up/scale-ups to our community and region.
The Greenhouse female entrepreneur engagement increased by 1% from 2019 to 2020. When you support Women Owned businesses, you are investing in women’s economic empowerment, gender parity in commerce, vibrant communities, and the growth of the economy overall. Here’s why: Women Owned businesses represent a significant portion of economic and business growth. As of January 2017, there were an estimated 11.6 million Women Owned businesses in the U.S., employing nearly 9 million people and generating $1.7 trillion in revenues (American Express Women Owned Report, 2017).
According to Census Bureau data, the number of minority-owned firms almost doubled over the last decade. Although minorities are majorly driving the growth of entrepreneurship around the country, minority business owners still face a multitude of challenges when trying to start and finance their businesses. That is why it is one of The Greenhouse’s priorities to ensure support and resources are accessible to all. Compared to demographics of Pinellas County, where 10.3% of the population is black (2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates), The Greenhouse served 23.5% black clients in 2020.
PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND IMPACT
FIGHTING CHANCE FUND
OVERVIEW: In response to the COVID-19 impact on local business, the City of St. Petersburg provided three phases of stabilization funding for St. Petersburg’s independently owned and operated small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental orders to close or limit operations. The Greenhouse
The program focused on the City’s goal of providing critical support to entrepreneurs who owned identified impacted small businesses – collectively employing more than 7,500 people – to help offset significant, temporary loss of revenue during the pandemic.
Through the final phase of stabilization funding, the City’s goal was to provide general economic stimulus to businesses impacted by COVID-19 and with an emphasis on business retention and preventing dissolution.
FIGHTING CHANCE FUND SUPPORT INITIATIVES:
- Constituent Service Team answered over 2,960 technical assistance requests during the Fighting Chance Fund
- The Greenhouse was the first local office to launch a Small Business COVID-19 Response page on March 11, 2020 to act as a central resource for small businesses to access the latest executive orders, technical assistance and access to local, state and federal emergency relief programs. Since its launch, the page received over 9,951 visits in 2020.
- Virtual Greenhouse Connects: In an effort to provide a remote space for business owners to connect for support and guidance, Greenhouse Connects held 10 virtual sessions during the pandemic, connecting over 82 business owners from highest impacted industries.
- Fighting Chance Fund Virtual Open Hours: The Greenhouse hosted over 287 small business owners during “Virtual Open Office”, where they could receive immediate assistance while applying for the grant program.
- How to Apply for the Fighting Chance Fund Webinar: Over 87 businesses accessed a recorded “how-to” webinar when preparing to apply for the program.
CONSTITUENT ENGAGEMENTS
0
COVID-19 RESPONSE PAGE VISITS
0
SMALL BUSINESS CONNECTIONS
0
BUSINESS RESILIENCY TEAM (BRT)
The Greenhouse led an effort to quickly deploy St. Pete’s first emergency response team for small business. It was a collaborative model for assisting small businesses throughout St. Pete. The BRT’s focus was on one-on-one connections with business owners and using data as a tool for ensuring equity helps build a stronger, more resilient St. Petersburg during the pandemic.
Over a period of 90 Days, The Business Resiliency Team assisted business owners in achieving incremental growth and establishing a positive trajectory throughout their Covid-19 recovery.
CONTACTED BUSINESSES
0
FULLY COMPLETED INTAKES
0
BLACK-OWNED
0
%
LATINO-OWNED
0
%
WOMAN-OWNED
0
%
Small Business Impact Survey
The Fighting Chance Survey was issued to businesses who received a Fighting Chance Fund grant award during stage 1, 2 or 3 of the program. The survey collected 760 responses between 9/14/20 to 10/19/20, with 94% responses collected within the first week. View full local survey.
Confidence in local economy:
How long will business remain in operation if the current pandemic trend were to continue? St. Pete Small businesses showed 7.5% higher confidence levels compared to national survey trends.
Permanent Closures:
Has your business permanently closed due to pandemic? Compared to a nationwide survey administered by PNAS in July, St. Pete was trending almost 1% lower than the national average of small business closures.
CAPACITY BUILDING
The Greenhouse provides a variety of technical assistance and capacity building services, helping entrepreneurs access the tools, skills, knowledge and resources necessary to start or expand a business. Starting March 23, 2020, The Greenhouse immediately pivoted to continue providing services remotely.
Partner Business Consulting/Mentoring (SBDC and SCORE)
TOTAL UNIQUE CLIENTS
0
TOTAL SESSIONS
0
TOTAL CONTACT HOURS
0
Workshops and Training
TOTAL EVENTS
0
TOTAL ATTENDANCES
0
NEW TITLES ADDED
0
The Greenhouse immediately responded during the pandemic to shift operational needs and continue offering small business assistance services remotely. Services were re-evaluated and expanded during this time. The following new offerings were added in response to immediate business needs during pandemic recovery:
- New OnDemand Library of recorded webinars – 30 RECORDINGS
- New Programs launched
- How to Assess Your Business: Is it Time to Pivot
- Understanding FMLA During COVID
- Keeping the Doors Open: The Key is in the Numbers
- Instagram (4-Part Series)
- Follow-up Fridays
- How to Connect and Network in the Virtual World
- How to Build a Business Brand in a Virtual World
NAVIGATION
The Greenhouse’s professional staff, also known as Navigators, are trained to deliver business assistance in a personalized manner. This concierge approach centers around relationship building, process navigation, and results-based solutions.
Greenhouse staff liaison services
TOTAL UNIQUE CLIENTS SERVED
0
TOTAL SESSIONS
0
TOTAL CONTACT HOURS
0
COORDINATION
Lack of coordination allows viable funding opportunities to leak through the cracks. The Greenhouse advocates for and administers local business initiatives and grant programs that are needed to help support local startups and existing small business.
St. Pete Pitch Night
VIRTUAL EVENTS HELD
0
ENTREPRENEUR PARTICIPANTS
0
TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED
$
0
Grow Smarter Job Creation and Talent Attraction Program
JOBS CREATED AND RETAINED
0
AVERAGE WAGE
$
0
TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED
$
0
Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
TOTAL CERTIFIED COUNT
0
TOTAL PROJECTS AMOUNT AWARDED
$
0
AWARENESS
Locally owned businesses are the fabric of St. Pete and create local character and prosperity. We promote our small business community through storytelling and advocacy of St. Pete and its entrepreneurs.
The Greenhouse News
ARTICLES PUBLISHED
0
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS
0
St. Pete ♥'s Small Business Campaign
LOVE NOTES PRINTED
0
St. Pete Small Business Map
BUSINESSES LISTED
0
Small Business Week
HOSTED EVENTS
0
BUSINESSES PARTCIPATED
0
#BurgBiz
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS
0
CONNECTION
Connections are essential when launching and growing your business. Community building programs and events offered through The Greenhouse -and its partners- link St. Pete’s entrepreneurs to the local ecosystem.
1 Million Cups
HOSTED EVENTS
0
TOTAL ATTENDEES
0
Nonprofit Connect
HOSTED EVENTS
0
TOTAL ATTENDEES
0
Greenhouse Connects
HOSTED EVENTS
0
TOTAL ATTENDEES
0