| August 2020 |
 More Pinellas CARES Local Business Grants are Coming SoonThe Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners has approved additional funding to develop new business assistance programs. Staff and community partners are making every effort to launch as soon as possible. Details about the programs and how to apply will be shared at www.PCED.org/cares as soon as operations are established to start accepting and processing applications. The upcoming program will accept applications from the business types most impacted by COVID-19 forced closures, including those that may not have a commercial location and others that did not qualify for the initial CARES Small Business Grants. The program will be opened to a wider range of small businesses with gross annual revenue up to $3 million, and the primary focus of the program will be to assist businesses that were required to shut down or whose customers were required to shut down or stop doing business.COVID-19 Business Disaster Recovery Assistance from the FSBDCThe Florida Small Business Development Center has assembled a variety of tools and services to help small business recover and reopen. Topics include reopening preparedness planning, work from home assessments, and economic assistance. Visit https://sbdctampabay.com/coronavirus/. SBA Accepting New Applications for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans and AdvanceSBA’s EIDL program offers long-term, low interest assistance for a small business or non-profit. These loans can provide vital economic support to help alleviate temporary loss of revenue. EIDL assistance can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt or fund other expenses. Additionally, the EIDL Advance will provide up to $10,000 ($1,000 per employee) of emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties, and these emergency grants do not have to be repaid. Learn more and apply at https://www.sba.gov/disaster. Helpful links:Pinellas County COVID-19 Information & AssistanceCOVID-19 Funding for BusinessesCOVID-19 Business Recovery ResourcesWhat’s Open and What’s NotSocial Distancing Tips How Local Business Can Help |
| Tech company Madison Cloud relocates from Baltimore to Pinellas County“Companies like Madison Cloud help grow and attract IT talent. Offering positions and higher paying jobs in cloud computing solutions, will continue to make Pinellas County stronger in technology talent. We are assisting by connecting the Madison Cloud team with resources like workforce development, training grants, technology organizations and the community.” Scott Talcott, Pinellas County Economic Development. Read more at St. Pete Catalyst: https://stpetecatalyst.com/tech-company-madison-cloud-relocates-from-baltimore-to-pinellas-county/ Randall Van Allen, CEO, Madison Cloud |  |
| VIDEO: 2020 Pinellas Business Hurricane Preparedness WebinarOver 160 people participated in Pinellas County’s recent webinar, Business Hurricane Preparedness in a COVID-19 World. Missed it? Click here for a video of the webinar: https://youtu.be/c97Q3iw4qcw. More preparedness videos from Pinellas County Emergency Management are available here. |
| Tropicana Field Site RFPSpanning 86 acres of publicly-owned land nestled in the middle of St. Pete, Florida, with one of the most vibrant and walkable downtowns in the nation, the Tropicana Field site represents a development opportunity unlike any other in the Southeast. The City of St. Petersburg has dedicated a minimum of $75 million for infrastructure development of the site with plans to partner with a development team to create a multi-use city center that reflects the diverse and rich culture of St. Petersburg and adheres to principals developed through community engagement, including Smart Cities, sustainability, and a healthy community. Click here to learn more. |  |
| Register for a free Connex Florida account and gain access to a free one-year subscription to the National Association of ManufacturersStarting July 1, if you register for a free Connex Florida account, you will have access to a free one year subscription to the National Association of Manufacturers Marketplace. Click here to learn more.Click here to request an account. |
| Pinellas Businesses Guidance for Reopening Water LinesFlushing water lines might not be high on a checklist for a business reopening in a building that has been empty or underused, but it should be. Flushing water lines is a simple process. Pinellas County Utilities offers guidance for business owners to help them maintain good water quality inside their facilities. For further information please see the EPA Guidance: http://pinellascounty.org/utilities/PDF/Stagnant-Water-after-Shutdown.pdf |  |
| Become an Election Worker for Pinellas CountyApply today at https://www.votepinellas.com/Election-Worker or call (727) 464-6110. Poll Workers: Each poll worker is assigned to work at a specific polling location on Election Day, and must be available to set up their sites before the polls open and remain at the polling place until after the polls close. Early Voting Workers: Before all elections, the Supervisor of Elections staffs 3 to 5 early voting sites for voters who wish to cast their ballots prior to Election Day. Early voting hours range from 8 to 12 hours a day. The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections is taking all necessary precautions including social distancing and additional cleaning protocols to ensure the safety of the election workers and voters. https://www.votepinellas.com/Poll-Worker/Poll-Worker-Application. |
| CO.STARTERS Cohort #10 Begins September 15 – a program for aspiring entrepreneurs CO.STARTERS is a 9-week facilitator-led program that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the relationships, insights, and tools needed to turn ideas into action and turn a passion into a thriving endeavor. Learn more and register at https://tbinnovates.com/costarters. |  |
| Project Phoenix 2.0A Hurricane Simulation for Tampa Bay Small Businesses & Emergency Management AgenciesIn 2009, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council developed the Tampa Bay Catastrophic Plan: Project Phoenix, a plan to address the challenges of response and recovery during a catastrophic event in the Tampa Bay area. Project Phoenix 2.0: The Recovery is a facilitated training exercise that examines critical issues and capabilities of Tampa Bay area small businesses and emergency management agencies during disaster recovery. Visit www.PCED.org/hurricane to find tips and tools to best prepare your Pinellas business. |  |