FORT PIERCE — The Indian River State College Foundation is pleased to announce that it has received a grant of $20,000 from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to bolster professional consulting for emerging and growth businesses through the Florida Small Business Development Center (FSBDC) at Indian River State College (IRSC). The funding will be used to provide additional hours to Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) certified business consultants who help eligible businesses— without cost — to certify as minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses, and gain access to government contracts.

“Small businesses are the cornerstone of this nation, and their success has never been more important as we work toward economic recovery,” says Doug Sherman, Treasure Coast market president for Bank of America. “COVID-19 has been a defining moment for the Treasure Coast, and our partnership with the IRSC will help local entrepreneurs grow from this experience to become more resilient than ever.”

Since 2016, the FSBDC at IRSC’s PTAC certified consultants have helped their government contracting clients gain access to more than $175 million in government contracts. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FSBDC at IRSC has additionally provided support and education to businesses needing government assistance through the form of CARES Act grants and other small business government grants, walking them through the required steps to successfully secure funding to remain open during the worldwide pandemic.

“We are grateful for the generous support of Bank of America,” remarked Ann Decker, executive director of the IRSC Foundation. “It is because of their commitment to small and emerging businesses that the FSBDC at IRSC can deliver more of the services that are especially critical at this time.”

To learn more about the FSBDC at IRSC, visit www.irscbiz.com.