On March 25, we had the privilege of sharing key information at Space Connect for business owners looking to get certified as city vendors and access major projects.
💡 Jonathan Marchant, License & Permit Supervisor for the Building division in the Development Services department of the City, emphasized the importance of staying up to date with the city’s Business Tax, a crucial requirement for vendor certification and government projects. He also explained the advantage of having a virtual address over a P.O. Box, as the latter is not considered a valid business address, even for digital companies.
🔗 Learn more about your Virtual Address options here.
💡 Douglas Keith, Producing Agent at FSB Agency Inc. delivered an engaging presentation on bonding, clarifying the difference between bonding and insurance—an essential aspect for businesses working with the government.
💡 Frank Hayden, Director of the Office of Small Minority Business Programs, shared his vast experience in procurement and explained the project allocation process. He encouraged minority business owners to get certified and stay present:
“You can be the best at what you do, but if we don’t know you, it does you no good. Your job is to make sure I remember who you are. And the best way to do it is to become a pest—because my philosophy is: if I get you some work, you will leave me alone!”
Frank Hayden, Director of the Office of Small Minority Business Programs at the City of West Palm Beach.
Special thanks to Sandra Hammerstein, SBE M/WBE Programs Compliance Officer at City of West Palm Beach for helping us bring this valuable information to our community and to Estrella Parada, CEO of Space Connect, for her mission to be the voice of Latinos and minorities in West Palm Beach.
At Space Connect, our goal is to help attendees register as city vendors, obtain their Business Tax License, and get certified with the city and school district. To make this process easier, we are offering a free personalized consultation to assess which steps you’ve completed and how we can accelerate the rest.
We remain committed to providing the resources, guidance, and connections that minority-owned businesses need to thrive.
