Subject:
Title
Cost Reimbursement Sub-agreement with the University of South Florida for funding in the Small Business Development Center.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of a Cost Reimbursement Sub-agreement with the University of South Florida for providing educational training and counseling to small businesses in Pinellas County.
• Pinellas County Economic Development will provide 3,044 consulting hours to a minimum of 199 unique clients in the service areas of start-up assistance, business plan assistance, marketing/growth assistance, procurement assistance, and capital access assistance.
• Revenue in the amount of $72,399.36 to be paid to the County by the University of South Florida for consulting services to new and existing small businesses.
• The period of the award is January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026.
• Funding for this cost reimbursement sub-agreement is included in the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget of the Economic Development Department in the General Fund.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.5 Foster business growth.
Summary:
The University of South Florida will retain Pinellas County Economic Development to undertake activities to support the Sub-agreement entitled “2026 Pinellas County Federal Subcontract.” The Sub-agreement activities will include providing educational training and counseling to small businesses in Pinellas County, and to develop legislative, community, and business relationships within Pinellas County.
Background/Explanation:
All Florida SBDC’s must offer an appropriate mix of core consulting, education and information services that achieve performance expectations and meet local needs. This is the federal portion of the annual contract for services for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The Florida SBDC leadership at the University of West Florida oversees the entire federal funding channel.
They first disburse the funds to regional centers, such as USF, who in turn develop sub-agreements with their partners. USF signs the Cost Reimbursement Sub-agreement following County Administration.
Fiscal Impact:
The total cost-reimbursable sub-agreement is not-to-exceed $219,392.00. Of this amount, $72,399.36 will be remitted to the County by the University of South Florida to support the Small Business Development Center. This represents the initial payment under the cost-reimbursement sub-agreement, through which the County serves as a subrecipient of a federal grant. The remaining $146,992.64 is anticipated to be received by the County by the end of Fiscal Year 2026.
Funding for this cost reimbursement sub-agreement is included in the current FY26 budget of the Economic Development Department in the General Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Director, Economic Development
Partners:
University of South Florida
Attachments:
Cost Reimbursement Subaward