Funds Available for Small Businesses to Hire New Employees

Hillsborough County’s new Small Business Job Creation Program still has more than $250,000 available for small business owners to hire new employees, according to a press release from Hillsborough County.

The Board of County Commissioners approved the Small Business Job Creation Program, spearheaded by Commissioner Sandra L. Murman, on March 16. The incentive program is designed to promote job creation in Hillsborough County by offering a wage reimbursement to small business owners. The reimbursement would pay small businesses up to 50 percent of three months’ total salary for new jobs created, capped at $3,900 per new employee. 

It is estimated that this program will encourage the creation of approximately 200 jobs, offering a total of $500,000 to local small business owners.

Within the first week of accepting applications for the reimbursement incentive program, three local businesses were pre-approved to receive the reimbursements, allowing them to hire three new employees each. More than 35 businesses have now applied for the funds.

"We're excited about the success of this program with 80 new jobs created through the 37 businesses that applied," Murman said. "The economic downturn has impacted all business, especially minority and small business. Our County Commission has taken a strong stand in support of economic development measures to ease the hardship endured by business owners who want to locate or expand in Hillsborough County or hire new workers."

To qualify, small business owners have to attend a minimum of four hours of business workshops and/or counseling sessions and meet specific requirements, such as having 10 employees or less; jobs created must be full time and last the required three-month employment period; businesses must have a Hillsborough County business tax receipt; new employees must be residents of Hillsborough County; businesses must be located in Hillsborough County; and businesses may be reimbursed for up to three created jobs.A dditional requirements are listed on the program application.

Small business owners can download an application and more information from the Hillsborough County Small, Minority Business Development Section’s Web page at: www.hillsboroughcounty.org/econdev/. The applications will be accepted on a first-come,first-served basis until the program funding runs out.

For additional information, contact the Hillsborough County Small, Minority Business Development Section at 813-914-4028.