June 2005

Pinellas County Economic Development Has Moved to the EpiCenter. The Pinellas County Arts Council, the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Pinellas County Economic Development and WorkNet Pinellas have joined St. Petersburg College’s District Offices, Corporate Training Center, University Partnership Center and High Tech Programs, blending economic development and workforce training in a 132,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility. The Epicenter will provide businesses with educational programs, small business consultation programs and business relocation information – all in a single convenient location. In addition, businesses and residents can quickly access domestic and international tourism marketing programs, corporate education programs and workforce development training. Visit us at our new location, 13805 58^th Street North in Largo.

St. Petersburg College Unveils Regulatory Affairs Class for the Medical Manufacturing Industry. St. Petersburg College (SPC) is offering this new class for professionals in the Medical Device Manufacturing Industry, to provide an overview of FDA compliance and regulations. The course includes the following topics: U.S. Food and Drug Law, the organization of the FDA, the medical device approval process, laboratory and clinical studies, an introduction to the Quality System Regulations (QSRs), the FDA inspection process, and international regulation. For more information about the Introduction to Regulatory Affairs for Medical Devices class, contact Brad Jenkins at (727) 341-4378. The fee for this class is $61.11.

Grant Helps Businesses Implement a Telework Program. Telework Tampa Bay has received grant funds to develop customized telework plans for local businesses.  At no cost, Telework Tampa Bay will meet with businesses interested in promoting telecommuting to develop work responsibilities, tracking programs and implement a telework program.  Telecommuting can increase productivity by 20%, decrease absenteeism, and reduce overhead costs. For more information, or to speak with Telework Tampa Bay about developing a telecommuting program for your company, call (888) 736-8640 or visit www.teleworktampabay.org.

Sell Your Product or Service to Pinellas County: Become a Vendor for Pinellas County Government on June 9. Join the Pinellas County Business Development Center on June 9, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. for How to do Business With Pinellas County, a free workshop designed to present businesses with an overview of the Pinellas County Purchasing System. Workshop participants will receive personal instruction and assistance from Joe Lauro, Pinellas County’s Purchasing Director, about how to register as a vendor, receive and respond to bid requests, and qualifications for the Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP), specifically designed for Pinellas County’s small businesses. The class will be held at the Pinellas County Business Development Center, at the EpiCenter, 13805 58^th Street North, Suite 1-200 in Largo. To register, call (727) 453-7200 or email businesshelp@siliconbay.org.

Pinellas County, Florida: Low Cost of Living on the ‘Other West Coast’. Pinellas County recently received its quarterly cost of living updates from ACCRA, rating the area’s cost of living about 7% below the national average. Pinellas County residents and businesses enjoyed a 93.2% cost of living for the first quarter of 2005. Pinellas County provides its residents with an excellent business climate, a skilled high-tech workforce and an exceptional quality of life. San Francisco, California, received a composite index score of 178.8 for first quarter 2005, making the average cost of living 78.8% higher than the national average. San Diego was also above the national average, at 146.9%. For more information about the results, click here.

WorkNet Pinellas Unveils Construction Apprenticeship Program to Connect Business and Education. WorkNet Pinellas is pleased to announce a new Pre-Apprenticeship Program guided by the knowledge of industry, local workforce boards, and the Pinellas County School Board. WorkNet Pinellas is one of the first agencies in the state to implement an apprenticeship program and encourages local businesses to become involved. “It is important that industry professionals become involved with the pre-apprenticeship students. The only way to build our future workforce is to invest our time, energy, and resources today.” The program is actively recruiting employers to sponsor students and students who are interested in enrolling in the pre-apprenticeship program. For more information, contact Ed Rodgers with WorkNet Pinellas at (727) 698-3650 or erodgers@worknetpinellas.org.

Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) Hosts Titans of Technology Event on June 9. Join Admiral James O. Ellis, Jr. (retired) as he explains the art of change management and new technology used by the U.S. Government. Admiral Ellis was instrumental in outfitting the United States Strategic Command to control military space operations, computer network operations, information operations, strategic warning and intelligence assessments, as well as global strategic planning using the latest technology. Titans of Technology will be held June 9, from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. at the A La Carte Event Pavillion. The fee is $25 for TBTF members and $50 for non-members. To register, click here.