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 Selling to Pinellas County Government

Business Workshop
 

June 23

 

 
Get an overview of the Pinellas County Purchasing Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program. Learn how to register to do business with Pinellas County Government. 
 
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Free
 

SBDC logo 7-2013 

 

  

Is your business ready for the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season?

 

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 until November 30 and we want all of our Pinellas businesses to be prepared! Find tools and resources to plan ahead on Pinellas County's

Business Solutions page.

 

Events Extra (published monthly)
Events & Opportunities (updated weekly)
 

Contact the Editor

 
 Vanessa Panzarella Watkins
vwatkins@pinellascounty.org
(727) 464-7332  

 

 

June, 2015
Pinellas Unemployment Drops Below 5%

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity recently released statistics that indicate that Pinellas' unemployment rate dropped below 5% for the first time since December of 2007. The rate for April 2015 stands at 4.8%. During the Great Recession, Pinellas County lost over 60,000 jobs, dropping from 443,291 employed workers in July 2006 to only 382,997 in December 2009.  Since March of 2014, the local economy has maintained its employment level above the pre-recession peak, and the latest figures indicate we've topped the 2006 employment level by an additional 6,000 jobs. Click here to learn more and read the entire release.

 

St. Petersburg Commerce Park RFP

The City of St. Petersburg is seeking a developer, tenant, or buyer for all or a portion of approximately 14.1 acres of City-owned Industrial Traditional zoned real estate. The site is located within the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area, along "The Deuces Live" Florida Main Street District, and adjacent to the Warehouse Arts District, all in close proximity to St. Petersburg's vibrant downtown. Full details available here.

 


 

Thank you for a successful
2015 Tampa Bay International Town Hall!
 

On May 8th, the Tampa Bay Export Alliance kicked off World Trade Month with the 2015 Tampa Bay International Town Hall (#ITH2015). The event brought together international trade experts and leaders to discuss the opportunities available and challenges facing the Tampa Bay area. More than 400 people attended this year's event and we expect an even bigger turnout in 2016! Our very great thanks go out to our partners and sponsors, who helped make this a terrific event.

 

Highlights from the 2015 Tampa Bay International Town Hall

 

 

#ITH2015 in the news: 

AMSkills, the American Manufacturing Skills Initiative, seeks Manufacturing Partners

Pinellas County's AMSkills program is seeking local manufacturers to partner in training initiatives for the next generation of manufacturing professionals.  This innovative program, using the German dual education model, will train apprentices tailored to employer partners' needs, and design programs to develop highly skilled employees who are prepared for long-term careers. Visit AMSkills.org to learn more, and click here to contact the team and become a manufacturing partner. Parents and students interested in exploring AMSkills opportunities for students can join the One Day Production Workshops on June 13th from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at East Lake High School and Dixie Hollins High SchoolClick here to register.

 

Mechatronics Training Demonstration at Polypack, June 30, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Mechatronics is what's next in manufacturing. This multidisciplinary field includes a combination of mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, control and computer engineering.

Join St. Petersburg College and the College Alliance for Advanced Manufacturing on June 30, at 9:00 a.m. at Polypack, 3301 Gateway Centre Blvd., Pinellas Park 33782, for a demonstration of the Mechatronics Training Program using portable machines. An RSVP is required to Matt Lenihan at mlenihan@polk.edu or (863) 669-2943.  http://www.polk.edu/wp-content/uploads/Open-House-Invitation-at-Polypack.pdf

 

June 3: Tampa Bay Diversity Business Expo

The Tampa Bay Diversity Business Expo is a free event, where exhibiting companies, government departments, and non-profits will be on hand to meet with local woman- and/or minority-owned business representatives to explore business opportunities. Learn more and register in advance at http://goo.gl/I8W38n.

 

Congratulations...
 
...to Wayne Brass of the Florida Small
Business Development Center at Pinellas County.  Wayne was one of six individuals presented the 2015 Tibbetts Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for his exemplary role in advancing the success of the SBA's SBIR/STTR programs for developing and commercializing technologies.  The recipients will be formally honored in Washington DC on June 15 during a White House ceremony. Click here to read the entire announcement.

... and to Scott Talcott, Business Development Manager at Pinellas County Economic Development. Scott was honored by the City of Oldsmar with the Council/Manager Award of Recognition for his partnership with the City to support local businesses and grow the Pinellas County economy.

Bruce Haddock, Oldsmar City Manager, and Suzanne Christman, Pinellas County Economic Development Senior Manager with Scott Talcott


Pinellas Schools named Future Ready by U.S. Dept. of Education                             

The U.S. Department of Education has selected Pinellas County Schools as one of nine district finalists out of 400 from across the nation, and the only district in Florida, to showcase the role leaders play in leveraging technology to create transformational learning environments. This recognition is a result of PCS taking the U.S. Dept. of Education's Future Ready District Pledge this fall. The pledge, which is part of the federal ConnectED Initiative, is designed to encourage districts to set a roadmap to achieve successful personalized digital learning for every student and show a commitment to move as quickly as possible toward a shared vision of preparing students for success in college, careers and citizenship. Read more here.

  
Pinellas News


 

St. Pete company expands HQ location, to create 4,500 jobs nationally

(Tampa Bay Business Journal)

 

Pinellas unemployment rate continues to decline

(Tampa Bay Newspapers)

 

Duke, USF St. Petersburg team up on 100-kilowatt solar array

(Tampa Bay Times)

 

Clearwater designs investment in U.S. 19 corridor to stimulate local economy

(83 Degrees)

 

Tampa-St. Pete ranks in top 25 metros for small businesses

(Tampa Bay Business Journal)

 

ArtsXchange: St. Pete creates affordable artist work spaces

(83 Degrees)

 

Federal money means more space for planes at St. Pete-Clearwater

(St. Petersburg Tribune)

 

Raymond James Bank takes top spot in most profitable Florida banks

(Tampa Bay Business Journal)

 

How Superior Uniform uses fashion and function to accommodate changes in the health care industry

(Tampa Bay Business Journal)

 

Clearwater's Tech Data to acquire Signature Technology Group

(Tampa Bay Times)

 

Top U.S. labor official praises Kriseman, Rays and C1 Financial for worker benefits

(Tampa Bay Times)

 

GulfShore Bank expands to downtown St. Petersburg

(Tampa Bay Business Journal)

 

4 Tampa Bay startups deemed most likely to land investors at a St. Pete capital conference

(Tampa Bay Business Journal)