The Florida Small Business Development Center Network has honored Dr. Rick Harper, Executive Director of the Office of Economic Development and Engagement at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, and Janice Perkins-Gilley, Assistant Vice President of Government and Community Relations at UWF as its Florida Outstanding Resource Partners of the Year.
Harper and Gilley were selected for their collective energies and efforts in the passage of new legislation on behalf of the Florida SBDC Network. The new law, Florida Statute 288.001, enhances the Florida SBDC Network position as “the principal business assistance organization for small businesses in the state.” Their hard work contributed to new performance-based investments for the Florida SBDC Network to expand business development services and support small business growth.