Volume 17 l April 2021
 
Weekly eConnection
801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602 Largo, FL 33770
Tel: 727-584-2321 Fax: 727-586-3112
Events Edition
And the ChamberSHOP! Winner is...
The husband and wife team of Larry and Stacy Gillis has taken their successful 37-year business from the Baltimore area to Pinellas County. Their studio specializes in media transfers, video productions, audiovisual installations and AV rentals. Check out their TV ad here and learn more about their business at www.AVsav.com.
Visit our ChamberSHOP! webpage to learn more about how you can enter the drawing and win a newsletter & social media promotion for your business.
Coffee An' Networking
We had our Coffee An' Networking event last week! Thank you to Karen Bisco at Keiser University, Clearwater for hosting and thank you to everyone for coming. It was a successful networking event
One more week left... Reserve your ad spot now!
B2B Happy Hour & Ribbon-Cutting
When: Thursday, May 20th -
5:30 - 7 pm
Where: The Haus Coffee Shop,
12199 Indian Rocks Road, Suite A
Largo, FL. 33774
$15 Members; $20 Non-members
This informal networking opportunity includes appetizers and a cash bar. Register here: Haus Happy Hour
A Women’s Leadership Committee Program…
COVID & The Workforce: What’s Next?
As the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine continues across the country, how will it and relaxed pandemic measures affect the workplace and workforce? Will it offer a return to normal? What about the mental impact of COVID and harnessing mental wellness in the workplace? And why has it hit women in the workforce particularly hard? A panel of experts will provide answers to these questions and offer their insight to “What’s Next?”
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 7:30 to 9:15 a.m.
St. Petersburg Marriott Clearwater
12600 Roosevelt Blvd. N, St. Petersburg
Sponsorships now being accepted.
Ticket sales starting soon.
Reach an audience of decision makers as a Panel Sponsor!

Presenting Sponsor $550 w/"Stage Time!"
• Opportunity to address Panel Breakfast audience.
• Reserved Table w/Business Logo for Four Guests ($80 value)
• Hundreds of Impressions! Business logo on marketing materials, event announcements, social media platforms, etc. ($600 value)
• Logo in Lights! Business logo projected on screen during Registration & Coffee Welcome. ($150 value)
• Marketing Display! One six–foot table provided for business marketing display in the event banquet room. ($150 value)

Marketing Sponsor $200
• Two Reserved Program Tickets ($40 value)
• Logo in Lights! Business logo projected on screen during Registration & Coffee Welcome. ($150 value)
• Marketing Display: One six–foot table provided for business marketing display in the event banquet room. ($150 value)

To reserve your sponsorship, please contact Zoe Basheska, Chamber Membership Outreach & Marketing Director at Membership@CentralChamber.biz or call 727-584-2321

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsors (to date)
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Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies
 
Chamber Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies are another great way to get your business noticed! For more, reach out to Zoe Basheska at Membership@CentralChamber.biz or call 727-584-2321
Tampa Bay COVID Update!  April 26, 2021
The COVID-19 Regional Re-Opening Dashboard tracks the critical and official public health metrics that guide Tampa Bay residents and policymakers to safely re-open our economy. It’s produced by the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Case growth rates in Tampa Bay decreased this week, to 1,357 per day over the 14-day period ending April 25, versus the 1,375 reported last week. At 7.33%, Tampa Bay's positive testing rate over the past week remains below the 10% threshold outlined in state and federal re-opening guidelines, and decreased from last week’s rate of 8.26%. Statewide, the positive testing rate was also below the 10% threshold and fell from 7.42% to 6.52%. The 7-day rolling average of Tampa Bay patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 increased by 3.3% in the past week and, as of Sunday, 812 such patients were hospitalized. To date, 1,272,648 Tampa Bay residents – an estimated 31.8% of the region’s nearly 4 million adults – have completed their COVID-19 vaccine sequence.
Help Support Teacher Appreciation Week, May 3-7
****More than ever, our teachers need to know how much we all appreciate their dedication to students and service to our community.
****Pinellas County Schools is requesting that your business recognize our teacher the week of May 3-7 in any of the following ways:
  • #ThankATeacher; BUSINESS NAME appreciates our teachers! Teachers change the world!, be creative!
  • Social media messages of thanks
  • Message of thanks on any company signage/digital billboard(s)
  • Small gifts for teachers in a school near you (feel free to contact the school community liaison directly)
Or anything else no matter how big or small you can do to make sure our teachers know how much their community appreciates what they do.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida that could bring legalized sports betting to Florida and generate billions of dollars in new revenue for the state, drawing to a close months of negotiations over the contentious issue.
Florida lawmakers are expected to gavel their session to a close on Friday — if they can produce a state budget by Tuesday — but return to the state Capitol two weeks later for a special session to consider a new gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe.
State officials are supposed to be tracking shots by ZIP code so they can see where the need is. But records on that are hard to come by.
Now that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill (SB 50) that requires out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians, the state is soon poised to collect an estimated $1 billion a year in revenue.
An hour before sunrise Friday, four astronauts launched from Florida for SpaceX’s third crewed mission to the International Space Station. The rocket’s trail glowed in the pitch-black sky as much of the Space Coast was still asleep.
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.
Via email to Zoe Basheska at membership@centralchamber.biz 
 
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
The Palms of Largo
Valley National Bank
Wealth Builders
The Weekly E-Connection is made possible by the following generous sponsors:
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