New institute at Barry University helps local businesses and nonprofits

Gladys Amador
(305) 899-4919

Miami Shores, Fla. - Barry University’s Andreas School of Business has established a new program to help small businesses in and around Miami Shores, develop business models, strategies and marketing, as well as helping nonprofits improve their effectiveness, develop their resources and maximize their opportunity for growth.

Through the help of several grants from several sources including the U.S. Small Business Administration, Miami-Dade County and the Allegany Franciscan Ministries the Barry Institute for Community and Economic Development (BICED) has begun to help business owners and non-profit organizations get the help they need through free seminars, counseling and information.

Small and community-based businesses as well as non-profit organizations are all benefiting from the free services provided by Barry’s institute, BICED, and the professionals who reach out to the community.

The Center for Social Entrepreneurship focuses on local non-profit organizations and small family-owned businesses. Through the help of professors and directors from the schools of business and social work, many professionals in the world of nonprofits are benefiting from free seminars that discuss everything from effective fundraising to working with board of directors.

The Entrepreneurial Institute focuses on addressing the needs of low to moderate-income communities. Through their efforts of setting up offices in communities such as Opa-Locka, Model City and South Miami; it seeks to reduce the economic disparity among communities in Miami-Dade County through business development and job creation.

The Center for Community Economies provides assistance with identifying, developing and networking those in community-based businesses where one-on-one assistance in leadership business activity and counseling will be available to small and family business owners in Miami Shores.

Three target areas in the city have been selected; the Northeast Second Avenue Corridor - from 111th to 125th Streets - downtown Miami Shores and Little Haiti. These areas were chosen to directly benefit from the community development opportunities provided by BICED to become one successful economic hub.

For further information regarding the Barry Institute for Community and Economic Development, please contact the Andreas School of Business Associate Dean, Manuel Tejeda at 305-899-3531 or e-mail biced@mail.barry.edu