Nonprofit Success Summit

Join us Thursday, November 13th for a powerful day of learning and connection! From 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, gain fresh fundraising strategies, board-building insights and practical tools to strengthen your nonprofit. Lunch is included. Tickets are $50 per person.

Sumter Long-Term Recovery Group - Open House

Recover. Rebuild. Rise.
Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Join us as we introduce and celebrate the Sumter County Long Term Recovery Group, a new emergency nonprofit team for long term disaster & incident recovery.

3rd Annual Sumter Workforce Summit

Join us for an interactive summit designed to empower businesses with the tools and connections needed to build a stronger workforce.

Financial Budget Workshop for Sumter Residents

CareerSource Central Florida, in partnership with Bank of America and The Salvation Army, is hosting a free Financial Literacy & Budgeting Workshop designed specifically for individuals who want to better manage their money, build financial confidence and take meaningful steps toward financial stability. This event will offer practical tools and resources to help participants build better financial habits and move toward long-term stability.

September is Workforce Development Month!

This month, we celebrate the people, programs, and partnerships that help build a stronger workforce for today and tomorrow. From training opportunities to career pathways, workforce development empowers individuals to gain new skills, grow professionally, and open doors to brighter futures.

SCED Attends Electricity 101 Hosted by Duke Energy Florida

The Sumter County Economic Development team had the chance to attend Electricity 101 hosted by Duke Energy Florida on July 15th to see skilled linemen demonstrate real-world outage scenarios and learn how electricity powers our communities – and our projects.

SBA Offers Disaster Relief to Florida Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by May Drought

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Florida who sustained economic losses caused by the drought beginning May 6. The SBA is offering low-interest economic injury disaster loans. The loan amount can be up to $2 million, with interest rates as low as 4%, and terms of up to 30 years. The deadline to apply is February 2, 2026.

Planning for Businesses

As Florida enters another hurricane season, businesses — especially small and medium-sized enterprises — face heightened risks of operational disruption, property damage, and financial loss. According to FEMA, 40% of small businesses never reopen after a disaster, and 25% more fail within a year if they lack a continuity plan.

Fortunately, Florida offers a wealth of resources to help businesses prepare, respond, and recover. The Florida Division of Emergency Management provides comprehensive guidance through its Business Planning portal, while the Florida Department of Financial Services offers consumer-focused storm preparedness tips.