Grand Opening Program
This program was established to celebrate and announce new businesses opening in Downtown Pensacola. The program is available free of charge to any new business or organization opening within the boundaries of the Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board District that has been open less than thirty days and where at least one new full-time employee has been added to the downtown location. Other procedural requirements also exist.
Any business wishing to schedule a Grand Opening must submit a full business plan in the format used by the University of West Florida’s Small Business Development Center. Than format can be downloaded by clicking here.
For more information contact the DIB.
850.434.5371
dib@downtownpensacola.com
Enterprise Zone
The Enterprise Zone was created in 2003 to encourage investment, business expansion, and business location in the City’s central core. Most of Downtown Pensacola is within the Enterprise zone.
Businesses locating or expanding in this area are eligible for several financial incentives subject to qualified private investments as well as the hiring of new employees.
For more information Contact:
Kyler Cole
City of Pensacola
850.436.5655
kcole@ci.pensacola.fl.us
Florida Enterprise Zones
Small Business Development Center
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. The SBDC offers one-stop assistance to individuals and small businesses by providing a wide variety of information and guidance in a central and easily accessible branch location. The program is a cooperative effort of the private sector, the educational community and federal, state and local governments and is an integral component of Entrepreneurial Development's network of training and counseling services.
The DIB recommends that anyone looking to open a business Downtown consult with the SBDC regarding a business plan, marketing, financing, and first-year planning. For more information visit the SBDC’s website at www.sba.gov
Commercial Façade Program
Through the use of a specified amount of public funding each year, businesses and property owners within designated areas of the downtown can apply for funds to assist with the restoration or renovation of their storefronts. Both grants and loans are available through this program.
The current funding for this program is exhausted for this Fiscal Year, but more money may come available in future month.
For more information contact:
Community Redevelopment Agency
City of Pensacola
850.435.5104
CRA Website
