Volume 83 l July 2022
 
Weekly eConnection
801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602 Largo, FL 33770
Tel: 727-584-2321 Fax: 727-586-3112
Economic Development - Friday Edition
Lunch & Learn with Spectrum Reach
What an awesome Lunch & Learn with Spectrum Reach! Thank you to Lizzy Gaustad for the informative presentation on creating affordable TV ads through the Spectrum Reach Ad Portal, and thank you for getting the lunches from one of our Trustees, Village Inn. Reach out to Lizzy today to learn more about TV advertising options for small businesses here. Thank you to all of the business reps for coming down!
Largo Voters to Decide on Land Sale for Sports/Recreation Complex
*****Largo voters will decide on November 8 if they want to sell city land for a sports and recreation complex.
*****During its meeting last week, the City Commission voted 4-2 to put the matter on the ballot. It calls for selling 87 acres located near East Bay Drive and Highland Avenue to Porter Development of Clearwater. About 90 percent of the property was previously a landfill.
*****Citing the economic benefits it would provide in addition to the reclamation of a landfill, the Chamber’s Board of Directors voted last month in support of having the land sale go before voters as a referendum item.
*****As proposed, the development – dubbed Mid-Pinellas Recreational Complex – would feature Pinellas County’s largest pickleball facility and its first public lagoon. It would include a mix of indoor and outdoor venues.
*****To learn more about the proposed project, visit www.largoreferendum.com
Inspire Awards Ceremony & Reception
Celebrating individuals who have gone above and beyond to create a positive impact in the lives of others through their leadership in the workplace and/or involvement in the community. Tickets on sale now!
When: Thursday, August 18th at 5:30 PM
Where: Central Park Performing Arts Center
105 Central Park Drive, Largo 33771
Tickets: $25 - purchase here.
The Ambassadors Team
An energetic team of volunteers who make regular contact with membership to involve them in Chamber activities. The Ambassadors participate in Chamber events, ribbon-cutting ceremonies and other public events involving Chamber visibility. At their latest meeting, they welcomed Amy Gaston of Data Tech as the newest Ambassador, and presented her with a New Member Plaque. They also celebrated with Kay McKenzie of Check Before Hire who received the Ambassador of the Month title two months in a row!
Call us at 727-584-2321 or email Zoe at membership@centralchamber.biz if you're interested in joining the team.
Here are some dates and times for several signature Chamber events scheduled for 2022.
Visit the EVENTS link at CentralChamber.biz regularly for all our activities.
 
August 18 —Inspire Awards, Central Park Performing Arts Center, 5:30 pm ; 25 - Coffee An' Networking, CareerSource Pinellas, 7:45 am.
 
September 27 – 69th Annual Meeting & Awards Breakfast, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, 7:30 am
 
October 20 – Central Pinellas Business Showcase, Central Park Performing Arts Center, 4:00 pm
 
November 12 – Chamber Caribbean Casino Nights, Cove Cay Golf Club, 6:30 pm.

December 8 – Holiday Happy Hour, Clearwater Yacht Club, 5:30 pm; 15 – Holiday Lunch, Holiday Inn Harbourside, 11:30 am. 
Nominations Open for Chamber Awards
****It’s your chance to nominate someone for the Chamber’s highest honors!
****Throughout our community and within the organization are many individuals worthy of acclaim. To spotlight their contributions in helping to make our community a better place to live and work, the Chamber each year presents its “Citizen of the Year” and “Mac Norcross Small Businessperson of the Year” awards.
****These distinguished honors will be presented at our 69th Annual Meeting & Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. It’s with much pomp and circumstance that we add these two individuals to the celebrated company of past recipients.
****Use this link for an Awards Criteria, Nomination Form and list of past recipients: https://www.centralchamber.biz/annual-chamber-awards
****Please take the time to consider if there is someone you know who embodies the characteristics of these honors, and submit your nomination by Friday, August 19. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give me a call at 584-2321 or email tom@CentralChamber.biz.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is broadening his attack on “woke” capitalism, promising to punish investment advisers and banks that consider the environmental and social implications of investing and not just the short-term bottom line.
Commercial and multifamily construction starts increased 31% in South Florida to $4.5 billion in the first half of 2022, according to Dodge Construction Network. 
Monkeypox is now being called a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization with 19,000 cases including five deaths being reported across 76 countries, according to the CDC.
To help boost the industry, UF researchers and citrus growers in Florida have utilized the three T’s: new tree types, new treatments and new tracking.
A textbook company is pushing back against a subpoena issued by Attorney General Ashley Moody's office in an investigation into pricing of school instructional materials, saying the state's request for documents involves scrutinizing millions of emails and would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Thank you to our Trustees and Newsletter Sponsors
Bay Care/Morton Plant Hospital
Business & Family Insurors
Check Before Hire
Cloud Law Firm PA
Duke Energy
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital
Home Instead/Be a Santa
Jackson & Associates CPA
Melody Hunter, Charles Rutenberg Realty
National Aviation Academy
Nova Southeastern University - Tampa Bay
Piper Fire Protection
Platinum Information Services
Regions Bank
Spectrum Reach
The Palms of Largo
Valley National Bank
Village Inn
Wealth Builders
The Weekly E-Connection is made possible by the following generous sponsors:
‌