SARASOTA - Alex Sink, former Florida gubernatorial candidate, pushed for more support for small businesses at Monday's Manasota SCORE luncheon, promoting her new organization, Florida Next Foundation.

Florida is doing "not enough and not much" currently to promote small businesses in the state, Sink said after she addressed a group of business mentors at Michael's on East.

She refused to say whether she plans to again run as the Democratic candidate against Gov. Rick Scott in the 2014 election.

"That's sometime next year," she said about an announcement. "I'm going to be open minded about it."

A Sarasota company, Real Woods, which provides architectural millwork for high-end homes and commercial buildings, received Manasota SCORE's client of the year award. Owners Daryl and Maggie Alsum had to overcome numerous obstacles when starting their business and has worked with SCORE mentors for about two years.

Counselor of the year was Jeannette Watling-Mills.