Ep. 366 | Fueling Florida’s Future: Rural Growth, Disaster Recovery & Economic Opportunity

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit in Tampa, host Tom Kindred welcomes Secretary Kelly, Secretary of Florida Commerce. With a background in education and economic development, Secretary Kelly shares how Florida Commerce is driving forward statewide initiatives that support small business owners—from Main Street to rural communities. The discussion covers Florida’s top priorities: expanding access to capital, empowering rural entrepreneurs, strengthening disaster preparedness through Florida Disaster Biz, and showcasing the state’s national leadership in business creation and workforce development. Secretary Kelly also highlights the historic deployment of $250 million through the State Small Business Credit Initiative, as well as the state's momentum in talent development, job growth, and economic resilience. Whether you’re running a business in the city or a small town, this episode offers actionable insights into how Florida is building one of the strongest small business ecosystems in the country. This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit hosted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital. Connect with Our Guest: FloridaDisaster.biz