Beyond permitting reforms, the city has cultivated partnerships with business support organizations. Prospera USA provides capital access and marketing assistance to Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs operating businesses with one to five employees. SCORE offers confidential onsite mentoring for established businesses facing growth challenges, helping owners who may have operated successfully for five or ten years but struggle to scale beyond their current capacity. These partnerships increase the city’s capacity to serve businesses at different developmental stages without expanding municipal payroll. “We really try to support and invest in our small and medium-sized businesses.We want them to know that their success contributes to the overall success of our city,” McCue emphasizes.“We want our businesses to continue to grow with us.” The focus on retention and organic growth highlights an understanding that sustainable economic development requires nurturing existing assets, not just recruiting external investment. LOCAL SUCCESS STORIES The city’s business support initiatives have produced tangible employment outcomes, documented through recent hiring fairs and commercial openings. Pinecrest Bakery hired all 14 employees from a Greenacres job fair. The bakery joins a growing roster of businesses finding qualified local talent through municipal employment programs rather than recruiting from neighboring cities. “Winston Barbershop hired two barbers from our job fair, and they came specifically from Greenacres,” Dr. Harris reports.“The cosmetologists at the barbershop, the four top supervisors for management at Juici Patties, all these success stories we want to spotlight.” The pattern ties individual hires to broader business performance metrics. Mori Asian, a local restaurant, experienced a significant increase in business after the city launched its “Dine Local. Savor Greenacres” campaign, attracting diners who hadn’t realized the establishment operated within city limits despite competitive pricing and quality offerings. 225 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 GREENACRES, FL
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