Hillsborough County Black Chamber of Commerce

09/16/2026

Good afternoon, please take the time to read the attached documents relative to the significant proposed changes from the SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman/SBA as well as the scheduled changes in the City of Tampa beginning January 1, 2027.

These changes has the potential to be a great risk for Black Owned Businesses particularly those in Hillsborough County. If you have any questions or concerns about the information within the letter please send an email to [email protected]


Hillsborough County, Florida Government
City of Tampa

09/16/2026

In case the algorithm kept this out of your feed, let’s run it back. 🎤

The SBA is proposing changes to what qualifies as a “small business” nationwide. That could mean more room to grow for some firms and more competition for others.

The Hillsborough County Black Chamber of Commerce wants business owners to know what’s being considered and how to participate.

Our free Public Comment Builder is available nationwide. Answer five questions, review your draft, and submit it yourself. No Chamber membership or ChatGPT account required.

Current rules remain in effect. Comments are due September 21, 2026. The proposal and builder are linked in the comments.

HCBCC is not affiliated with the SBA and takes no position for or against the proposal. We’re sharing information so you can make your own informed decision.

Each one, teach one. Your share could reach an entrepreneur who hasn’t seen this.

09/15/2026

Today may be National Voter Registration Day, but civic engagement doesn’t end when today does.
If today gets your attention, good. Take it further.
Stay engaged. Pay attention to what’s happening in your community. Listen to the conversations. Read what’s being proposed. Notice how priorities and agendas are taking shape right in front of us.
And when it’s time to vote, participate.
Registration is the first step.
Showing up is what gives it meaning.
People. Progress. Possibilities.
We Chamber Differently.

09/15/2026

You have a perspective. Let’s help you put it into words.

Our free Public Comment Builder walks you through five questions. Select all perspectives that apply, edit your draft, copy it, and submit it yourself through Regulations.gov.

No ChatGPT account required. The builder does not save your answers or send them to an AI model. Hosting providers may collect technical visit information; submitted government comments may become public.

📅 Comment deadline: Monday, September 21, 2026.

🔗 "Build your comment" (https://hcbcc-sba-comment-builder.essentialbeing333.chatgpt.site)

Created by The Content Alchemist, LLC for the Hillsborough County Black Chamber of Commerce.

HCBCC is not the SBA and takes no position on the proposal. This tool helps you express your own perspective.

We Chamber Differently.

09/15/2026

You don’t have to have received SBA funding for this conversation to matter.

The proposed size-standard changes could affect who competes for federal small-business opportunities.

For growing firms, higher limits could mean room to expand while remaining eligible. For smaller firms, they could mean competing against businesses with more staff and resources.

Same proposal. Different experiences. Yours belongs on the record.

🔗 "Review the proposal" (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/20/2026-17042/small-business-size-standards)

HCBCC is not the SBA and takes no position on the proposal. We’re sharing information so you can determine how it may affect your business.

09/15/2026

Tap, tap, tap… 🎤 Let’s talk about it in the open.

Who gets to call themselves a “small business”?

The SBA is proposing changes to that definition: broader industry groupings, different ways to measure business size, and higher limits for many industries.

That could allow larger companies to qualify as small. And business owners deserve to understand what that could mean.

These are proposed changes. Current rules remain in effect.

🔗 "See what’s proposed" (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/20/2026-17042/small-business-size-standards)

HCBCC is not the SBA and takes no position on the proposal. We’re sharing information so business owners can make informed decisions.

We Chamber Differently.

09/15/2026

We need the data to support the work we do . Thank you in advance.

URGENT ADVOCACY ALERT:

SBA Size Standards Survey.

Extended Deadline: beyond the initial extension of September 9, 2026. It’s now 9/21/26.

SBA redefining size standards could impact small business eligibility for federal contracts. Complete survey now. Share with members, other business owners, etc.

There will also be a virtual town hall on September 17th. Use link to find out more.

Link - https://advocacy.sba.gov/2026/09/14/sba-to-host-public-forum-on-proposed-size-standards-rules/

Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, Inc.Broward County Black Chamber of CommerceMiami-Dade Chamber of CommerceThe African American Chamber of Commerce - Polk CountyBlack NewsBig Bend Minority Chamber of CommerceSpace Coast Black Chamber of CommerceAfrican American Chamber of Commerce of Central FloridaGulf Coast Minority Chamber of CommerceJacksonville Black Chamber of Commerce Inc.Hillsborough County Black Chamber of CommerceGreater First Coast Chamber of Commerce, Innovation & Trade - First CCCITTreasure Coast Black Chamber of CommerceBlack Enterprise

09/14/2026

🎤 Calling all speakers, facilitators and thought leaders!

ICF Central Florida is now accepting speaker proposals for our 2027 programming, and we’re looking for people who can bring fresh ideas, practical tools and engaging learning experiences to our coaching community.

Have expertise that can help coaches grow their skills, expand their thinking, or strengthen their practice? We’d love to hear from you.

Sessions should align with the ICF Core Competencies or Resource Development and be educational rather than promotional.

Know someone who would be a fantastic fit? Tag them or share this post with them!

📅 Applications due October 31, 2026
👉 Apply today: https://www.icf-cf.com/Call-for-Speakers

09/14/2026

Your reach can help create opportunities for nonprofits, solopreneurs, and small business owners. We’re 100% volunteer-run, so we understand how much community support matters.

Like, share, and follow. Let’s fill our timelines with people doing the work and help their work reach further.

09/14/2026

When you’re the owner and the operator, getting to a Chamber meeting isn’t always easy. So we met business owners where they were.

Yesterday, we attended the wedding expo at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland. We walked the floor, spoke with small business owners, and learned about their services and the people behind them.

Making connections starts with showing up. This time, it was our turn to come to them.

Thank you to everyone who took a moment to talk with us while working their booths. It was good to meet you and see your work up close.