Weekly eConnection
801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602 Largo, FL 33770
Tel: 727-584-2321 Fax: 727-586-3112
|
|
Wishing all a very Happy Easter! |
|
The Chamber will close at noon on Good Friday, April 2.
Office hours will resume on Monday, April 5 at 9 a.m.
|
|
Congratulations!
The following Chamber members were recognized in Sunday’s Tampa Bay Times as among
2021 Tampa Bay’s Top 100 Workplaces.
|
|
Large Employers
Grow Financial Credit Union
Raymond James Financial, Inc.
BayCare Health System
City of Largo
Midsize Employers
GTE Financial
The Bank of Tampa
Achieva Credit Union
Fifth Third Bank
Small Employer
DITEK Corporation
|
|
Clayton and GraceBelize Moore are recent college grads, newlyweds and proprietors of their start-up MooreSocial LLC. Their goal is to help small businesses that have suffered through COVID with affordable social media management. To learn more about them, visit www.LLCmooresocial.com
|
|
Thursday, April 15th - 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Holiday Inn St. Petersburg/Clearwater - 3535 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater FL, 33762
$15 Members; $20 Non-members
This informal networking event includes appetizers and a cash bar. The Holiday Inn enforces social distancing & masks are required.
|
|
Florida Economic Indicators for February 2021 |
|
(Source: FL Dept. of Economic Opportunity)
· Unemployment rate is 4.7 percent.
· Florida businesses gained 19,200 private-sector jobs over the month.
· Labor force was up 55,000 over the month, bringing the February 2021 total up to 10,124,000.
· Florida’s private sector over the year job rate decline was 6.4 percent in February 2021. This in an improvement from 14.3 percent in April 2020.
· Private-sector industries gaining the most jobs over-the-month were:
· Trade, Transportation, and Utilities with 9,400 new jobs
· Professional and Business Services with 6,800 new jobs
· Finance Activities with 2,200 new jobs
· Education and Health Services with 1,900 new jobs
· Consumer Sentiment Index was 77.2 in February 2021, 5.4 points lower than the revised January figure of 82.6.
Tampa Bay – The unemployment rate in Tampa Bay was 4.2 percent in February, down from 13.9 percent reported in April 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. Three major industries gained jobs over the year in February 2021: Financial Activities, increasing by 2,300 jobs; Professional and Business Services, increasing by 2,300 jobs; and Construction, increasing by 400 jobs. The Tampa Bay private sector employment decreased by 37,400 jobs, a decline of 3.0 percent over the year. The industry losing the most jobs was Leisure and Hospitality, decreasing by 27,700.
|
|
Women Leadership Committee |
|
The WLC is having its monthly meetings in person and via Zoom! The committee, led by co-chairs Mia Cloud from Cloud Law Firm and Kelsey Truncale at Nova Southeastern University, is planning upcoming signature events, such as Inspire Awards, Professionals Speakers Panel and the Holiday Luncheon. For more details and information on how to join the committee email Zoe at: membership@centralchamber.biz
|
|
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies
Chamber Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies are another great way to get your business noticed! For more, reach out to Zoe at Membership@CentralChamber.biz or call 727-584-2321
|
|
Pinellas County COVID-10 Vaccine Update…
40+ can now book appointments
|
|
******Pinellas County residents 40 or older can now get vaccinated per the latest executive order from Florida’s governor and can book appointments online at www.PatientPortalFL.com. This age group, along with health care workers and medically vulnerable people with a doctor’s form, can create an account online or by calling (844) 770-8548 then check for available appointments. The website and phone number are available 24/7.
Public sites operated by the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County (DOH-Pinellas) and Pinellas County Government are adding appointments as additional shipments are received from the state.
Eligible groups may also check for vaccine availability at local pharmacies in Pinellas County, including Publix, Walmart, Sam’s Club and CVS or visit walk up sites in Palm Harbor and Tampa. Identification and proof of eligibility required at all appointments.
|
|
Tampa Bay COVID Update! March 30, 2021 |
|
It’s produced by the Tampa Bay Partnership.
Case growth rates in Tampa Bay increased this past week, to 997 per day over the 14-day period ending March 28, versus the 907 reported the prior week. At 7.07%, Tampa Bay's positive testing rate over the past week remains below the 10% threshold outlined in state and federal re-opening guidelines, yet increased from last week’s rate of 5.99%. Statewide, the positive testing rate was also below the 10% threshold, but rose from 5.60% to 6.15%. The 7-day rolling average of Tampa Bay patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 decreased, albeit slightly, by 0.4% in the past week and, as of Sunday, 689 such patients were hospitalized. To date, 625,121 Tampa Bay residents – an estimated 15.7% of the region’s nearly 4 million adults – have completed their COVID-19 vaccine sequence.
|
|
The 2021-2022 Directory & Go-to-Guide
Ad slots available - a couple of weeks left!
|
|
Call Kelvin Mack at (727)584-2321 or email him at events@centralchamber.biz to discuss the details or request a fillable PDF to easily submit your information.
|
|
A little more than a year after COVID-19 began wrecking the economy and infecting and killing Floridians, state lawmakers gave final approval to a bill that will shield from coronavirus-related lawsuits businesses ranging from nursing homes to grocery stores to restaurants.
Rising property insurance rates are on the verge of popping Florida’s housing bubble and the economy — all because of lawsuits.
For the first time since the retiring of the space shuttle a decade ago, a massive spacecraft is being constructed inside the Vehicle Assembly building at Kennedy Space Center.
Talk of returning to an office — albeit a much different one, and some cases, smaller — has begun to percolate in businesses. But getting employees to embrace the office again could be a big challenge for some executives and landlords.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging the federal government to allow Florida-based cruise ships to start sailing again this June.
|
|
Share info about your business…
Central Pinellas BizReach E-Connection
For a nominal fee of $35 per issue or $100 a month, you can highlight news about your business opening and specials. Here are the details.
One entry for $35, four entries for $100 (you can edit from week to week).
For non-profits: One entry for $25, four entries for $50.
All Chamber members are eligible to provide business updates and special member-to-member offers/discounts. Central Pinellas BizReach is distributed weekly on Fridays. Provide information/updates by noon the Wednesday prior. Images in jpg or png format with offer will be accepted.
|
|
Thank you to our Trustees and Newsletter Sponsors |
|
Bay Care/Morton Plant Hospital
Cloud Law Firm PA
Duke Energy
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital
Home Instead/Be a Santa
Jackson & Associates CPA
Melody Hunter, Charles Rutenberg Realty
MidFlorida Credit Union
National Aviation Academy
|
|
Nova Southeastern University - Tampa Bay
Paradise Air
Piper Fire Protection
Platinum Information Services
Regions Bank
Spectrum Reach
The Palms of Largo
Valley National Bank
Wealth Builders
|
|
The Weekly E-Connection is made possible by the following generous sponsors: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
