Tampa’s Small Business Navigator program is marking its second anniversary after assisting nearly 850 local businesses. Established in November 2023, the program provides support to entrepreneurs working to start or expand their operations in the Tampa area. One example includes the East Tampa sandwich shop That’s Wat’Sub, which used the program’s services to recover after Hurricane Milton.
Owner Kathleen Jeanty temporarily closed her business for six weeks due to significant damage but was able to reopen with assistance from the Small Business Navigator program. Facing issues such as damaged signage and equipment failures, Jeanty sought help from the City of Tampa’s Small Business Navigator. According to the City of Tampa, the sub shop, which she co-founded with her sister, has since resumed operations.
The initiative, part of the Department of Economic Opportunity, offers free services to entrepreneurs, including individual assessments, technical assistance, and partnerships with local organizations. Partners such as Tampa Bay Wave and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provided assistance to Jeanty after the hurricane.
Shawn Ferguson, a consultant with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Hillsborough County, worked with Jeanty to refine her pricing strategy. Together, they reviewed the menu and developed a lunch special in collaboration with a local influencer. As per the City of Tampa, the SBDC provided guidance on using ingredient cost calculators to align product pricing with actual costs.
As small and mid-sized businesses continue to develop in Hillsborough County, demand for business support programs is expected to remain steady. According to business data firm Data Axle, more than 8,300 businesses have been listed in the Yellow Pages for the first time since 2021.
