January 2003   Issue #2

New survey results show more than half of Pinellas businesses now have a company web site: Fifty-eight percent of Pinellas County businesses have an Internet web site, compared to 46% last quarter, according to Economic Development's Business Assistance Monitor survey of 317 businesses during the fourth quarter of 2002. Additionally, there was a marked improvement in individual business performance expectations with 72% expecting next year to be "much better" or "better" than this year, compared to 63% last quarter. The Business Assistance Monitor is an ongoing personal interview survey conducted by Business Assistance Partnership Specialists. For information, call (727) 464-7344 or visit our website: www.siliconbay.org.

St. Petersburg College has expanded its partnership with Pinellas County Economic Development by providing a new Business Development Center coordinator: Welcome to Kurt Forster. Kurt will organize activities including business counseling, training classes, reference materials and referrals. Prior to joining the center, Kurt had his own market research business and worked in economic development in the state of Wyoming. Kurt can be reached at (727) 464-8113 or e-mail kforster@co.pinellas.fl.us.

Attention, businesses. Learn how to prepare your company to be a government supplier: The first ever Joint Technology Council Meeting between the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce is scheduled from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 31, and will focus on "Preparing Your Business to be a Government Supplier." This free meeting, to be held at Catalina Marketing, 200 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, offers a regional approach to technology councils. Local, state and federal purchasing representatives will be available for networking sessions. Future meetings, to be held quarterly, will focus on business cost reductions, capital generation and more. To register and for more information, call the St. Petersburg Area Chamber at (727) 821-4069 or the Clearwater Regional Chamber, (727) 461-0011.

Get connected at the Pinellas County Connection Center: The Pinellas Economic Development office (14010 Roosevelt Blvd., Suite 704) now houses a new County Connection Center. This Central/East office is one of three initial centers established to educate and inform citizens about county services, codes, public safety and planning issues, and help resolve or facilitate neighborhood concerns through customer-responsive, community-based staff who work directly with all county departments and agencies to identify gaps in county services for immediate or future action. For general county information, contact Frank Bowman at (727) 453-7394 or e-mail fbowman@co.pinellas.fl.us.

Do you know a youth group looking for funding to do a community service project? Youth as Resources (YAR) has grants available for any youth group in Pinellas County with youth up to age 19 who want to help an organization in the community. School or church groups, youth service clubs, and non-profit organizations are eligible. Examples of a community service program are to assist the homeless by providing meals, design an anti-drug or gang campaign, perform a planting project, or trash pick-up. Interested? The spring 2003 funding cycle for the grant application deadline is March 14. Grant applications are available at http://coop.co.pinellas.fl.us./yar/yarweb.htm or call Mary Barnhart at (727) 582-2103.

Remember Good Business Pinellas TV and Radio: Good Business Pinellas TV airs weeknights at 7 p.m. on St. Petersburg College TV Channel 19 and at various times on Pinellas 18, Channels 15 and 35 in St. Petersburg and Channel 15 in Clearwater. Also, listen to Good Business Pinellas Radio, WHNZ 1250 AM, at 1 p.m., every Wednesday, and anytime - 24/7 - on www.siliconbay.org. For information, call (727) 464-7498.