The County approved $27,281 in annual funding for two years to the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund, Inc. (HBIF) to provide specialized business counseling and workshop services to local Hispanic businesses. The services will include providing up to 12 workshops and more than 260 hours of individual counseling to disadvantaged and small Hispanic for-profit and non-profit businesses in the County. The County has provided funding to the organization since the 1990's.

The County Commission also approved $14,062 in annual funding for two years to the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, Inc. The County has been providing funding for this event since January 2005.

Hispanic Business Initiative Fund, Inc. is the local non-profit technical assistance provider that holds workshops in Spanish for small, minority and women-owned businesses in the County. HBIF is co-located with the County's Small Business Information Center (SBIC), where it offers many of its training workshops and services. The organization also provides workshops and technical assistance to businesses at other locations in Tampa and Plant City, in coordination with the SBIC.

HBIF and SBIC are located at Corporate Square, 7402 N. 56th Street, Suite 425, Tampa, FL 33617. For more information on SBIC services, workshops and programs, visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/sbic/ or call (813) 914-4028.

The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival is a multi-day heritage festival that is held annually in January and includes a schedule of cultural events and a weekend street festival. The events are scheduled next year from Jan. 14-23. The Festival also received $15,000 from the Tourist Development Council this year to support its out-of-area marketing efforts. The Council has supported the Festival since January 2003, which brings tourists into the County to enjoy the cultural events. More information about the Festival is available at: www.tampablackheritage.org/.