October 2021 AeroMatrix Composites: Thank you for doing business in Pinellas!AeroMatrix Composites designs, engineers, fabricates and assembles interior and exterior composite products and solutions for customers in the aerospace and defense industries. The company is working with Pinellas Technical College to create a new entry-level composite certification program to encourage applicants to learn more and join this growing industry. Last month, Pinellas County recognized and thanked Ben Vargas, President of AeroMatrix Composites, and his team for continuing to grow this innovative company in our community. AeroMatrix Composites is currently hiring and can provide training for qualified applicants. Apply today at: www.aeromatrixcomposites.com Pinellas County Virtual Reverse Trade Show, Oct. 15At the Reverse Tradeshow, government contractors and business owners meet dozens of local agencies from the Tampa Bay Area who are ready to do business with small business enterprises. Our mission is to offer real opportunities to businesses by providing you with the information you need to succeed in the regional marketplace in a no-pressure environment. This community event is presented by Pinellas County Economic Development and the Florida Small Business Development Center. Sponsored by United Bank. Oct. 15, 9:00 – 11:00am. Instructions to join this Zoom event will be included with your email registration confirmation. Free registration at www.PCED.org/reversetradeshow. Pinellas Companies in the Inc. 5000 Congratulations to Solar Bear, and all of the fast-growing Inc. 5000 companies based in Pinellas County. Pinellas Companies on the Inc. 5000 had a median 3 year growth rate of 266%! These companies are amazing success stories and testimonies to the creative entrepreneurial spirit. You can view the full Inc. 5000 list for 2021 at https://www.inc.com/inc5000/2021.August 2021 Pinellas Labor ReportOur website has been updated to include the August 2021 Labor Report. Explore the full interactive report at https://www.pced.org/page/laborreport. One exciting takeaway? We now have more jobs in Pinellas than we did pre-pandemic! Explore New Business Opportunities Throughout the Middle East & Africa at Trade Winds, March 6 – 8, 2022Join the U.S. Commercial Service in Dubai, UAE for the largest U.S. government-led trade mission and business development forum. Trade Winds will feature meetings with U.S. commercial diplomats from over 20 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa; exciting conference programming; and plenty of networking. Qualified U.S. businesses may customize their experience with optional business-to-business matchmaking meetings with pre-screened buyers, agents, distributors or joint-venture partners in the UAE, as well as Algeria, Israel, Morocco, Qatar (March 2-3) and Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kuwait (March 9-10). Learn more and apply at https://www.trade.gov/trade-winds. Capabilities Statements for Government Contractors: Oct. 21 webinarGovernment contracting is a very competitive marketplace! Contractors must know how to convey their company’s information in a way that is relevant and targeted to decision-makers, supplier diversity professionals and small business advocates. A well-developed Capability Statement will aid in networking and marketing your company and its’ capabilities to these government audiences. In this webinar, a PTAC Specialist will address the following:What is the purpose of a Capabilities Statement?What information do you include in your Capabilities Statement?How do you portray your message? Free webinar, 1:00 – 2:00 pm, Oct. 21. Click here to register. Livell Company Hits Its Stride with Digital TransformationThanks to assistance from the Florida Small Business Development Center at Pinellas County Economic Development, the Livell Company successfully utilized state and federal programs designed to help small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here or view the video above to learn more about how this natural health and wellness manufacturing company is thriving in Pinellas.News Links Pinellas’ August unemployment rate drops to 4.2%Tampa Bay’s job growth rate more than double the growth rate of labor forceJabil expects to hit over $8B in net revenue in Q1 of 2022PandaDoc, a San Francisco company with a major St. Pete presence, hits $1B ‘unicorn’ statusLargo’s newly formed TD Synnex projects $15B in revenues by year’s end Retail media tech company opens U.S. HQ in St. PetersburgOwner of St. Petersburg waffle truck Pop Goes the Waffle talks about expansion9 new businesses coming to St. Petersburg’s Central AvenueAfter doubling employees, St. Pete insurance tech startup opens new officeTampa Bay startups are grabbing national attention — againJust in time to help new businesses, Hispanic chamber forms in Pinellas www.PCED.org Pinellas County Economic Development | (727) 464-7332 | econdev@pinellascounty.org 13805 58 St. N., Suite 1-200 | Clearwater, FL 33760 |