YOU NEED NOT READ ANY FURTHER if your business is good and you have no operational challenges.  For the rest of you, consider listing your business needs on the free *Pinellas Networking Directory “business opportunities” section of our website, www.siliconbay.org.  As proof of performance, an out-of-state manufacturer recently listed his specialized support needs from Pinellas businesses and within a few days he received an “overwhelming response.” Why don’t you try it.  The price is right and you have everything to gain.  For information or help, write to info@siliconbay.org or call 727-464-7342.

575 full-time Baxter Healthcare employees will sharpen their skills through a $411,544 grant from Workforce Florida, Inc.  On July 7, a state Quick Response Training grant was awarded to Baxter for employee training in such subjects as project management, geometric dimensioning and training the trainer.  Pinellas Economic Development and PTEC assisted in initiating the agreement, which will be exercised over the next 24 months. Baxter Healthcare is expanding its Largo facility and plans to hire additional employees.  For information on training grants and business incentives, call or write Danielle Zito, Pinellas Economic Development, dzito@co.pinellas.fl.us 727-464-7489

Pinellas County is turning Brownfields to $$Green, headlines a page in the official program of the 6th annual statewide Florida Brownfields Conference, August 11-13, 2003, in St. Petersburg’s downtown Hilton.  The 3-day program titled “Sustainability in the Sunshine,” covers subjects from marketplace redevelopment, community health, financing, grant funding and writing, to playfields, golf courses, and much more.  The City of St. Petersburg’s Charles Ray is event chairman, and the public is invited.  For registration and information call the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, 727-570-5151, ext. 221, or online www.floridabrownfields2003.org

Growth of the Financial Services Industry surges in Pinellas County as the latest State of Florida data (4th quarter 2002) shows that one of every 12 Financial Services employees in the state and one of every four Financial Services employees in the 7-county Tampa Bay area works in Pinellas County.  Average 4th quarter wages paid to  10,748 Pinellas County Financial Services workers, employed by 679 companies in Pinellas, is second only to Sarasota County in the Tampa Bay area.  For more detail call Pinellas Economic Development Research at 727-464-7344 or info@siliconbay.org

*The Pinellas Networking Directory received top national honors from the ACCRA (excellence in economic development research) association during its June annual conference in Detroit.  Mike Maruschak, Economic Development Research IT Analyst, received the award and made an in-depth presentation on siliconbay.org to all delegates.  

Good Business Pinellas Television is currently featuring a Hooters 20th anniversary celebration interview with four of the chain’s founders.  Begun in Clearwater, Hooters has expanded to 43 states and 10 countries.  Good Business TV airs weeknights at 7pm on SPC 19, and multiple times weekly on Pinellas 18 and 15 in St. Petersburg and Clearwater.  Also, don’t miss weekly Good Business Radio, Wednesdays, 1 – 2 pm, 1250 WHNZ – and 24/7 on www.siliconbay.org.  For info call 727-464-7498 or write goodbusinesspinellas@siliconbay.org