The Legislature created the Florida Black Business Investment Board to support the creation and expansion of black-owned businesses in the state. The board also allocates capitalization funds to independent regional black business investment corporations and a statewide corporation that provide loans and loan guarantees to black business owners.

The black business investment corporations have implemented reasonable controls for providing loans and loan guarantees. However, there has been considerable ongoing controversy regarding the relationship between the board and the investment corporations.

To address this controversy, the Legislature should consider several options: maintaining the board's current role; refocusing its role to serving as a statewide advocacy and networking entity; or eliminating the board. If the Legislature continues to provide financial assistance for black businesses, it could earmark funds for the investment corporations or provide grants to minority business development organizations. In our opinion, the best combination of options would be to

• change the board's role to serving as a statewide advocacy and networking entity for the various entities that assist qualified black-owned businesses; and
• make the Department of Community Affairs or OTTED responsible for awarding grants to minority business development organizations, distributing funds, and monitoring grant recipient performance.