Why this
matters now.
Established businesses can close when owners delay succession or cannot identify prepared buyers or successors.
Community Initiative 07
In development
The Legacy Business Project
Preserve viable businesses, jobs, customer relationships, and community ownership across generations.
Express interest in the Legacy Business Project ↗Why this
Build the table.
Shape the model.
Raise awareness; provide future confidential readiness pathways; convene qualified professional categories; and support acquisition and succession ecosystems.
Shared progress
Black-business impact.
Region-wide value.
Ownership and capacity
More ownership continuity, succession preparation, and acquisition pathways for emerging entrepreneurs.
A stronger Tampa Bay
Fewer avoidable closures and better preservation of jobs, services, and neighborhood institutions.
How the work may move
Four practical
workstreams.
Owner awareness
Normalize earlier, responsible thinking about continuity, succession, and ownership transition.
Confidential readiness
Design future pathways that protect sensitive owner and business information.
Successor and acquirer pipeline
Explore preparation for emerging owners without listing or matching transactions publicly.
Advisor ecosystem
Convene qualified professional categories that responsible transitions may require.
POTENTIAL PARTNER CATEGORIES
Perspective the work may need.
Established ownersPotential acquirersAttorneysAccountantsValuation professionalsLendersWealth and estate plannersWorkforce representatives
WHAT WE INTEND TO MEASURE
Evidence before celebration.
- Owners engaged
- Readiness assessments
- Transition plans
- Advisor connections
- Completed transitions only when verified and approved for reporting
Participate now
Bring perspective.
Help shape the work.
Owners, potential future acquirers, and qualified professional categories may express general interest without disclosing transaction information.
- 01
Express interest in future succession or acquisition education.
- 02
Identify a qualified professional category your organization may contribute.
- 03
Share a general continuity question without naming a business, seller, buyer, value, or transaction.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVESBring perspective.