– With the increase of Pinellas County’s sheltered market, the SBE Program’s potential market has increased from $2 million to $40 million – The County has created a dedicated team to assist eligible businesses – All Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) contracts will include SBE goals – Integration of B2GNow software to track and monitor contract compliance – For more information about eligibility requirements please visit Pinellas County’s SBE Program’s website: www.PCED.org/sbe Pinellas County, Florida, May 9, 2019 – Pinellas County has listened to the voices of citizens and local business owners and made improvements to expand the Pinellas Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program. The enhanced program fosters a strategic approach to expanding access to opportunities and diversifying the supply chain. “Expanding our Small Business Enterprise Program ensures that more of our local, small business owners have access to greater opportunities to do business with the county,” shared Barry Burton, Pinellas County Administrator. “It’s an all around win, and I’m proud of the fact we got here with the input and expertise from our business community.” The program, led by the Pinellas County Economic Development and Purchasing Departments, has a dedicated team to assist eligible businesses. With the increase of Pinellas County’s sheltered market, the SBE Program’s potential market has increased from $2 million to $40 million. With the integration of the new software, Pinellas County will incorporate a searchable database to assist Pinellas County staff and general contractors with identifying small businesses for subcontracting opportunities. The software will also allow local vendors to receive email notifications of opportunities to do business with Pinellas County. In addition, all small businesses that are awarded a contract will have access to business consultants at the Florida Small Business Development Center at Pinellas County Economic Development for support services. Eligible businesses are those that serve a commercially useful function, located in one of Pinellas County’s 24 municipalities, Hillsborough, Pasco, or Manatee Counties, have less than 50 full-time employees, with 3-year average gross revenues of $3 million or less for services and $8 million or less for construction related projects. ### About Pinellas County Economic Development: Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED)works with existing businesses to encourage expansion and seeks to attract new companies with high-wage careers to our community. Through investment tools, business classes, professional consulting services, trade missions to open new markets, and strategic partnerships, PCED fosters a pro-business environment and promotes the ideal business climate of Pinellas County, Florida. |