Orange County opens free Business Resource Office in Orlando, adding online dashboard and mapping tool

A new “one-stop” entry point for entrepreneurs

Orange County has opened a free Business Resource Office designed to centralize guidance for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, combining in-person support with a new online dashboard meant to simplify how residents find programs, training and technical assistance.

The county marked the launch with a ribbon-cutting event on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at the Orange County Administration Center in downtown Orlando. The office is located on the first floor of the building at 201 S. Rosalind Ave.

What the office is intended to do

The county’s stated goal is to strengthen coordination with the small business community by connecting owners to resources that are often spread across multiple agencies and partner organizations. Rather than operating as a stand-alone program that replaces existing services, the office is structured as a connector—directing people to relevant programs and helping them identify next steps based on where they are in the business lifecycle.

The launch also includes an online Business Resource Office dashboard. County materials describe it as a consolidated resource hub for entrepreneurs that includes an interactive mapping feature intended to help users explore potential business locations.

How it fits into the county’s broader small-business support network

The Business Resource Office expands a county approach that relies heavily on partnerships with nonprofit and regional entrepreneurship organizations. Orange County already promotes a network of small-business assistance offerings, including free and low-cost coaching and training delivered through partner groups.

One of the county’s flagship tools in this area is CFLBizLink, described in county materials as a free program managed by the National Entrepreneur Center in partnership with Orange County Government. CFLBizLink is positioned as a front door to one-on-one coaching and training across topics that commonly challenge small businesses, such as planning, financing, marketing, licensing and permitting, contracting, operations, human resources, accounting and international trade.

Why a “one-stop” model matters for small firms

For many small companies, the barrier is not only access to capital but also the time and expertise required to navigate permitting, compliance, workforce needs, and procurement processes. A consolidated entry point can reduce duplicative searches across agencies and may speed up referrals to specialized support, especially for first-time entrepreneurs.

Orange County’s recent policy activity has also included efforts to expand participation in county procurement. In July 2025, the county approved a Small Business Enterprise program framework and scheduled public webinars to gather feedback and explain program details.

• Location: Orange County Administration Center, 201 S. Rosalind Ave., Orlando
• Core purpose: connect entrepreneurs to existing resources, programs and training
• Digital component: online dashboard with a resource collection and interactive mapping tool

The office and dashboard are framed as navigation tools—helping entrepreneurs identify services and partners aligned with their immediate needs, from startup steps to growth planning.