The St. Petersburg-Clearwater-Tampa Metropolitan Area Is One of the “Top 25 Large Cities for Doing Business in America” according to Inc. magazine’s March 2004 edition. Sustained job growth across a balance of industries was cited as the major factor in Inc.’s ranking and a major objective indicator of a region’s economic vitality for entrepreneurs.  Download the entire story, courtesy of the Tampa Bay Partnership at www.tampabay.org/admin/editor/upload/Inc_Top_25_Cities.pdf

Santech, Inc. Scores a Big League Win with Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.    The Clearwater-based manufacturer of stadium scoreboards has secured a contract to provide 12 scoreboards to Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando.  Naum Kunis, CEO, explains the secret of his growing company's success; “Our motto is ‘Don’t compromise, when you can customize.’ The ability to create an affordable custom solution to meet Disney’s requirements allowed us to become the preferred supplier for this project.“   Learn more about Santech, Inc., at www.scoreboards.net.

Don Gerhardt, President of Medical Alley (Minnesota), to Speak March 9, 8:00 a.m., at the Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium Breakfast.  Medical Alley is home to over 800 medical device manufacturers and thousands of health career-related organizations that uniquely position the region as a major player in the health care industry.  Attend this informative presentation to learn more about this highly successful Minnesota organization, and discuss ways Florida can support and grow the Medical Manufacturing industry.  To register for the breakfast contact, Rhonda Caruso at (727) 464-8123 or rcaruso@pinellascounty.org.  Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium is online at www.flamedmfg.org.

St. Petersburg College’s eCampus has been Named America's Outstanding Distance Education Program by the American Association of Community Colleges' Instructional Technology Council (ITC). In addition, Kevin Morgan, associate professor of Humanities at St. Petersburg College, was one of two instructors named Outstanding Online Faculty. In the ITC award program's 13-year history, no college has ever received two awards, according to awards committee chairman Jim Picquet.  "It's phenomenal," Picquet said. "It has never happened before."  Learn more about St. Petersburg College’s eCampus at www.spcollege.edu/ecampus

Can the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Program Save Your Business $240,000? Cardinal Health 409, Inc., one of Pinellas County’s largest, and growing employers was able to save approximately $240,000 in duties through their participation in the Foreign Trade Zone program.  In addition, the company and one of their suppliers realized a duty savings of approximately $3,600,000, through the use of a zone-to-zone transfer.  To learn more about the FTZ program, link to www.siliconbay.org/stats_forms/list_documents.asp?id=2802, or contact Kathleen Good at (727) 464-7423  or kgood@pinellascounty.org.

Solutions for Small Business Funding Challenges will be explored at the Pinellas County Business Development Center on March 11, from 3:30-5:00 p.m.  Learn how to qualify for a variety of loan programs available through the Small Business Administration (SBA) Lending Programs, private banks, Certified Development Corporations and Intermediaries.  Register for this free seminar through PCED at (727) 453-7200 or email businesshelp@siliconbay.org.

USF Technology Matching Grants Available Up to $100,000.  Learn how to apply for USF External Matching Grants at the USF Grant Workshops, March 4, at the USF Technology Center, Tampa Campus.  The sessions will be held at 9:30a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. Guidelines for applying to this partnership grant program, administered by the Florida High Tech Corridor, will be discussed.  Contact Dick Streeter at (813) 974-5458 or streeter@research.usf.edu for more information.

WorkNet Pinellas is Hosting a Disability Employment Consortium at 9:00 a.m., March 10, at the St. Petersburg College Caruth Health Education Center to discuss the issues that face people with disabilities as they enter the workforce.  Over 60 community agencies have been invited to discuss employment issues and barriers to employment for people with disabilities.  Please contact Mirasol Rivera at (727) 791-5807 or mrivera@worknetpinellas.org for more information.