28 New Pinellas County Business Opportunities.  Can your business provide products and services to meet business requests from around the corner and around the world?  Browse new Pinellas County business opportunity leads for products and services at www.siliconbay.org/networking_directory/classified_list.asp?id=1201.

Key Professional Services for Small Businesses, Tuesday, December 02, 2003, 8:00AM – 9:00AM.  A panel of experts will provide advice on the most pressing financial, legal, human resource, and insurance needs of small business today. Bank of America provides a continental breakfast, and there is no cost to participants. To register, email businesshelp@siliconbay.org or call 727-453-7200.

Interested in Expanding Your Business to Include International Trade? Enterprise Florida’s International Trade Office has welcomed Randy Phillips to the Tampa Bay Field Office in Channelside. Randy will assist Pinellas County companies with export counseling services, as well as assistance with export marketing missions, targeted market site events, and the electronic trade leads network. Learn more at www.eflorida.com/contactus/field.asp?level1=25&level2=126.

Recruiting New Employees?  Let them know the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area has one of the lowest costs of living in the United States. The ACCRA Cost of Living Comparison compares the local cost of living to other cities throughout Florida and the United States. Comparisons are made with cities outside of Florida such as: San Francisco, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Boston. Learn more about this comparison at www.siliconbay.org/stats_forms/document.asp?id=16674.

Congratulations to Senator Jim Sebesta, who was honored with the Tampa Bay Partnership Chair’s Cup for Excellence in Regionalism.  This prestigious award is given annually to recognize an individual who has made significant contributions, exhibited leadership, and advocated for resources to enhance the marketability of the Tampa Bay region. www.tampabay.org/admin/editor/upload/Chairs_Cup-Sebesta.pdf

Non-Profit Organizations (3-Session Workshop) Part 1:How to Start a Not-for-Profit 12/4/03; Part 2: Starting a 501-c3 non-profit - 12/11/03; Part 3: Seeking & Writing Grants - 12/18/03. Learn about developing a board, articles of incorporation, by-laws and other required paperwork to acquire tax-exempt status. All sessions are from 6:00PM-8:00PM.  There is no fee for this event.  To register, email businesshelp@siliconbay.org or call 727-453-7200.

Job Growth in Pinellas County Ranks Fourth in the Nation with 18,500 New Jobs.  Preliminary results from a recently released Bureau of Labor Market Statistics report indicate the Pinellas County gained 18,500 jobs between March 2002 and March 2003.  This earns Pinellas County the rank of fourth in the nation among counties posting positive job growth. Read more about the Bureau of Labor Market Statistics release at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cewqtr.pdf

October Unemployment is Down to 4.0 % in Pinellas County.  The unemployment rate (not yet seasonally adjusted) within Pinellas County dropped to 4.0% in October 2003, down from 4.5% during September 2003, and down when compared to the 4.7% recorded during October 2002.  www.labormarketinfo.com/press/release.pdf.