June 2007

Hurricane Preparedness Seminar, June 29.  Sponsored by the Pinellas County Economic Development and Stevens & Stevens Business Records Management, this free seminar is designed to assist businesses with planning and preparing for the continuation of operations in the event of a disaster.  Participants will receive an emergency resource kit and the fundamental tools to develop a disaster preparedness and recovery plan, including disaster contact information.  A complimentary lunch will be served, courtesy of Stevens & Stevens Business Records Management.  The seminar will be held from 11:30am – 2:00pm at the EpiCenter, 13805 58th St. North, Clearwater, 33760.

TBTF Fast and Furious Partnering Conference, June 14, 3:00pm – 7:00pm.  Meet hundreds of potential partners and customers at the Fast & Furious Partnering Conference, presented by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF).  Technology companies from across the Tampa Bay area will give short pitches designed to let you know right away if they are good business partners for you. After the presentations, enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while networking with company representatives in the exhibit hall.  Represented industries will include: Digital Media; Software; Information Technology Services; Modeling, Simulation and Training; Optics and Photonics; E-Learning; and Bioscience.  The event will be held at the Mahaffey Theater, 400 First Street S., St. Petersburg, 33701.  Click here for more information and to register.

Connecting Business and Education: Job-A-Thon 2007.  Job-A-Thon 2007 is now underway in Pinellas County and it needs the support of the business community to make it a success.  Job-A-Thon is a partnership among WorkNet Pinellas, Junior Achievement, St. Petersburg College, Pinellas Technical Education Centers (PTEC) and local businesses to help high school youth prepare for, obtain and maintain employment over the course of the summer school recess.  The Job-A-Thon partnership is actively seeking job opportunities for local youth participating in the program.  If you would like to include your business in the Job-A-Thon, contact WorkNet’s Director of Primary Service Provider, Garry Burlingame at (727) 791-5835 or gburlingame@worknetpinellas.org.

Enterprise Florida’s Export Sales Mission to Costa Rica and Panama, September 16-21.  Costa Rica and Panama are among Florida’s top 25 trading partners, totaling over $5.25 billion in trade in 2006.   Enterprise Florida’s official mission to these two markets is designed to help participants identify and initiate business relationships with customers in these countries.  Participation will be limited to a total of 20 Florida manufacturers, distributors, exporters and service companies that best meet the participation criteria. This popular mission is expected to sell out well before the registration deadline of July 30. If you are interested, please don’t delay in contacting Julie Balzano at (305) 808-3666 or jbalzano@eflorida.com.

New Postal Regulations Can Affect Business Mailings.  In addition to the postal rate increase that went into effect May 14, new regulations regarding package thickness and shape were instituted.  These regulations may affect business mailings such as brochures, booklets and promotional items.  Click here for information, or contact your local post office. 

Sign Up for the Brownfield Broadsheet.  The Brownfield Broadsheet is a new electronic publication offered by Pinellas County Economic Development.  Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants and are an integral component of Pinellas County’s redevelopment efforts.  Released quarterly, the Brownfield Broadsheet will keep you up-to-date on regional brownfield developments.  To receive the Brownfield Broadsheet and other redevelopment news, click here, enter your email address and select Redevelopment Opportunities.  Click here to read the May edition.

June 2007 Pinellas County Success Story

Conax Florida – Protecting Lives in St. Petersburg… and Around the World.   Conax Florida Corporation, located in St. Petersburg, Florida, is to be the new operating base for products previously manufactured by H. Koch & Sons.  The move will bring additional high paying and highly skilled jobs to the area that will compliment the company’s current workforce of 170.   With wages paying 115% of the Florida average, and a capital investment of $2,484,000 over three years, the new operations benefit both the company and the region.  “The addition of H. Koch & Sons’ operations will broaden Conax’s partnership with the U.S. Army, as well as our local defense contract management agency and our local supplier base,” said Cliff Nigh, Director of Human Resources.

Click here to read more of Conax’s success story.