Welcome!

I'm just an apprentice, but I would recommend you wait to build facilities until you have a sponsor. That way they can guide you through the process so you can make sure it's built right the first time. Just my 2 cents.

If you're looking to meet people in Florida I recommend checking out the Florida Gamehawkers group on FB, as well as the Florida Falconers group. Both have good info and should be a good resource for finding folks in your area to meet up with.

There are also the Florida Falconers Association and the Florida Hawking Fraternity which are 2 clubs in FL you could join.

You're on the right path and have the right mindset (meeting people before seeking sponsorship) so you should do well. Again, welcome and best of luck!