April 2005

Pinellas County Education Foundation Rated the Top Education Foundation in the Country. The education foundation was honored by Dewey & Associates, Inc., as the Top Education Foundation in the United States. The firm rated the forty largest school districts in the U.S. to measure the effectiveness of generating and sustaining financial resources as well as distributing resources to students. Pinellas County’s school district serves over 148,000 students through pre-kindergarten, K-12, and adult schooling programs.  For more information, visit www.pinellaseducation.org.

Commissioner and Mrs. Calvin Harris Named Family of the Year by Family Service Centers, Inc. The Harris’ will be honored at the organization’s annual dinner event on May 4. “Calvin and Ruth Harris are to be commended for their dedication to Pinellas County families and children, and I am pleased to congratulate them on this prestigious award,” stated Mike Meidel, Director of Pinellas County Economic Development. For more information about Family Service Centers, Inc. and the May 4^th dinner honoring the Harris’, visit www.fsc1.com.

2005 Medical Device Symposium April 26 & 27. The Florida Medical Manufacturers’ Consortium is hosting this valuable symposium for medical device manufacturers, R&D firms, educational institutions and government officials. Conference attendees will participate in a FDA briefing, learn about product liability, discuss industry trends and attend mini-workshops specific to industry and product development. The conference will be held at the Wyndham Westshore in Tampa. To register, visit www.FlaMedMfg.org.

WorkNet Pinellas Opens New One Stop Center in Tarpon Springs.  WorkNet Pinellas has opened a new One Stop Career Center at St. Petersburg College’s Tarpon Springs Campus, located at 38500 U.S. Highway 19 North. The new One Stop is WorkNet’s ninth facility in Pinellas County and will provide employment, education, and training services to businesses and job seekers.  For more information, visit www.WorkNetPinellas.org.

Congratulations to Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Senior Manager of Business Assistance for PCED. Pinellas County Economic Development is pleased to extend congratulations to Dr. Johnson for receiving her degree as Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. EdD graduates are scholarly practitioners concentrating on the interconnections between the worlds of research, policy and professional practice in the field of education.

Welcome Trevor Davis, Palm Harbor’s New Business Assistance Specialist. Pinellas County Economic Development is pleased to welcome Trevor Davis to the Business Assistance Partnership (BAPs) Program, a tri-partnership between Pinellas County, local municipalities and chambers of commerce.  Mr. Davis will be based at the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce, 1151 Nebraska Avenue, Palm Harbor. He is looking forward to utilizing his extensive business background to provide no cost business assistance and entrepreneurial guidance to local companies. For more information, or to speak with Mr. Davis, call (727) 784-4287.

Reserve Your Seat to Streamline Your Export Procedures on May 19 & 20. The U.S. Department of Commerce, the Florida District Export Council and the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security are hosting a two-day seminar for Tampa Bay exporters. The seminar will give businesses a step-by-step plan designed to streamline and simplify trade regulations and export control laws. The seminar will be held at the EpiCenter, 13805 58^th Street North, Clearwater. Space for this seminar is limited. Call  (727) 893-3738 or email george.martinez@mail.doc.gov to reserve your seat.

WorkNet & PCED: Your Partners for Success. Join WorkNet Pinellas for these informative seminars. Fair Labor Standards Act: New Rules will differentiate exempt and non-exempt employment and recent rule changes, April 21,
8 AM – 11AM, Holiday Inn Select, 3535 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater. Financial Incentives Seminar will explore business tax incentives, April 27, 10 AM – 12 PM, Gulf-to-Bay One Stop Center. Contact Kristin Dailey at (727) 507-4300, ext. 3004 or kdailey@worknetpinellas.org to reserve your space.

NxLeveL Business Training Begins New Semester. NxLeveL is the premier training program for future entrepreneurs and existing small businesses needing to test the feasibility of their business concept and develop a complete business plan suitable for obtaining financing and managing the growth of a small business. A course fee of $149 includes a textbook, workbook, and 10 class sessions with expert speakers. Classes meet every Thursday night from 5:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for 10 weeks beginning on April 28^th and continuing through June 30^th. To register, email businesshelp@siliconbay.org or call (727) 453-7200.

Pinellas County’s Commercial Waste Program Saves Resources for Local Businesses. Pinellas County Utilities has helped several Pinellas firms trim costs and develop efficient waste disposal procedures at no cost. To learn how you can benefit from this innovative program, contact Marie Jacobs at (727) 464-7500 or click here.

Pinellas County Business Development Center Releases New Schedule of Training Classes for April 2005.  The center offers business training in marketing, financing, business start-up, accounting procedures, government contracting, and market research. To view the schedule, click here.