Veteran-Owned Business Grows with Local Assistance
We Go All Places of Hillsborough County
Maurice White, a Veteran working overseas as a government contractor, decided to start his own business when he started his family. In 2015 he created We Go All Places to provide support to expedite logistics, transportation, construction, and contingency support for the day-to-day needs arising from the various companies and units that support the military.
White was looking for assistance in starting the business and acquiring loans, and he knew that the Florida PTAC at the University of South Florida could provide that help. He was eventually connected with Karen Krymski, a procurement specialist who was able to help him sort through contracts and loans. Since 2016, We Go All Places has continued to grow through assistance from various consultants at the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of South Florida, and the Florida PTAC at USF.
Throughout the years, he’s sought assistance in government contracting, market and growth assistance, capital access, business certification, and disaster loan assistance.
In 2020, a new challenge presented itself with the COVID-19 pandemic. White needed additional funding to weather the changes hitting the business as the U.S. Military cut back on spending during this time as well.
“This forced me to get some of the government program loans like the PPP to be able to keep all of our staff actually employed, to be able to maintain the rent,” White said. “COVID-19 has been devastating.”
Even through the slowdown, White was able to gain contracts and continue the work that he was passionate about.
“It really has grown in leaps and bounds,” he said. “By having additional funding, we were actually able to find the goods and services needed to finish the two contracts that we had received with the U.S. Navy.”
Continuing in his journey with We Go All Places, White plans to keep attending webinars, asking questions, and using the Florida PTAC at USF. He has even recommended it when teaching Veteran entrepreneurs how to embark in business.
“They are proven professionals and they know what they are speaking about,” he said. “Sometimes they can reach out farther to the SBA than you could. It’s just a great source of information.”
