MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 6, 2006
Contact: Stacey Swank
Pinellas County Economic Development
(727) 464-7425 or sswank@pinellascounty.org

Pinellas County’s Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program Seeks Qualified Local Vendors

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, DECEMBER 6, 2006 - Pinellas County’s Board of County Commissioners today rechristened and revised the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program.  Previously recognized as the Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP), the updated SBE program will increase caps on the revenue and employment of qualified vendors.  Employers with fewer than fifty full time employees and annual gross revenues of less than $2 million are eligible and should contact Pinellas County’s Business Development Center at (727) 453-7200 or email businesshelp@pced.org to learn more and enroll in the SBE Program. 

The SBE is a sheltered market created for qualified vendors that allows small business to place bids for County purchases greater than $2,000 up to $10,000.  The program is non-specific to gender or race and benefits all small businesses principally located in geographical Pinellas County with sales and staffing below the established thresholds.

More information regarding the SBE Program, including an online application is available at http://www.pinellascounty.org/purchase/sbap1.htm

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Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) works with existing businesses to encourage expansion and seeks to attract new companies with high-wage careers to Central Florida's Gulf Coast. Through investment tools, professional courses and business counseling sessions and proactive vendor relations, as well as local, regional and statewide partnerships, PCED fosters a pro-business climate in Pinellas County, Florida.  Learn more about Central Florida’s ideal business climate at www.pced.org.