August 2008

Voice It! Your Input Needed for a Regional Vision. Through One Bay's Voice It! campaign, Bay area residents are being asked to provide feedback through a survey on alternative growth scenarios developed to further meaningful dialogue on planning for our region's next 50 years of growth. This is an opportunity for citizens to express their opinions prioritizing the Guiding Principles (values) most important to them. Share your opinion at www.myonebay.com to help identify what we need to do today to protect, preserve, and enhance those features that make Tampa Bay great

Small Business Lending Fair, Aug. 29 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Pinellas County Economic Development will host its 4^th annual Lending Fair to assist business owners in identifying capital for business growth and expansion, as well as new business ventures. This year's event is scheduled for August 29 at the EpiCenter, 13805 58^th Street N., Clearwater. Last year's event featured exhibits by 25 Pinellas County lenders including banks, community lenders, and alternative lenders. Approximately 150 business owners attended the occasion and were able to browse the different lending programs offered by local lenders. Please phone (727) 453-7200 or visit www.pced.org/lendingfair for more information. Finance counseling and assistance is available year round through the Pinellas County Business Development Center.

Nominations Sought for Tampa Bay's Best in Business and Technology. The Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) is seeking nominations for the Fifth Annual Industry Achievement Awards to honor the region's best in business and technology. Finalists will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges and honored in front of hundreds at an exciting black-tie awards gala on Nov. 6. To submit a nomination, go to www.tbtf.org and click on “Awards Gala Nomination” in the left-hand menu.

Help Set Florida's 2009 Business Agenda. While Florida's Legislative Session does not start until March 2009, advocacy and grassroots work by the Florida Chamber of Commerce begins now on key issues affecting Florida businesses. The Florida Chamber needs your input on the priorities and challenges that should be addressed in the upcoming legislative session. Click here to participate in the chamber's 2009 Business Agenda Survey.

Business Development Mission to Panama, October 26-29. Organized and sponsored by the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce and in coordination with the United States Embassy, the Mission will help U.S. companies initiate or expand their market presence in Panama's leading industry sectors. Assistance will include making business-to-business meetings, providing market access information, and providing introductions to important companies and government officials such as key decision makers of the Panama Canal Authority and other government agencies. Space on the mission is limited. For more details and to register for the mission, please visit the Panama Mission website.

Monthly Hazardous Waste Collection for Businesses:August 13. Dispose of unwanted hazardous electronics and chemical waste at the EnviroBusiness collections, scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month. Collections will be taken from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Household Electronics & Chemical Collection Center, 2990 110^th Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Any business may drop off its hazardous electronics. To drop off chemicals, businesses need to qualify as small waste generators, (producing less than 25 gallons, or 220 pounds, of chemical waste per month). About ninety percent of all the electronic equipment brought in is either reused or recycled. Visit www.pinellascounty.org/bizwaste to learn more.

August 2008 Pinellas County Success Story

Investing in Success: Pinellas County Leads Florida in Incumbent Worker Training Grants. With 29 companies utilizing over $725,000 in grant funding, Pinellas County led the state of Florida in Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grant awards over the past fiscal year. Nearly 2,000 Pinellas employees received training through the program.

Click here to read the entire story, including testimonials from three Pinellas IWT recipients, Gulf Medical Fiberoptics, TSE Industries, Inc. and MTS Medication Technologies.

Applications for the 2008-09 fiscal year are now being accepted for new IWT grant opportunities. Click here for an application and contact Pinellas County Economic Development for assistance.