Volume 8 l February 2021
 
Weekly eConnection
801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602 Largo, FL 33770
Tel: 727-584-2321 Fax: 727-586-3112
"Anything Goes" Edition
Coffee An' Networking
We had our Coffee An' Networking Event and what a great turnout! Thanks to Keely Murphy and her team at the Marriott St. Petersburg / Clearwater for hosting and to our corporate sponsor Mia Cloud of the Cloud Law Firm, P.A. The event wrapped-up with a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for our newest member United Water Restoration Group of Pinellas County. Thank you to everyone for making the event safe and fun!
Thank you to Advanced Video Systems for the photos.
The 2021-2022 Directory & Go-to-Guide
Greetings!

Since the onset of COVID, your Chamber’s Central Pinellas Business & Go-To-Guide is being requested more than ever.
We’re running out of stock, and are now preparing a 2021-2022 edition.
There are plenty of advertising opportunities to showcase your business. But there is a deadline! Wednesday, March 31.
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.
Let us put you in a spot. Stop by with a stack of cards or mail to Central Pinellas Chamber, 801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602, Largo FL 33770.
Welcome United Water Restoration!
Last week we welcomed United Water Restoration as a new member of the Chamber with a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony! It was a successful event with a great turnout. They are located at 3734 131st Ave N, Clearwater, Florida 33762. Visit their website: https://uwrgpinellascountyfl.com/
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies
Chamber Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies are another great way to get your business noticed! Cost is $150, and we’ll be sure you get plenty of visibility for that special occasion. For more, reach out to Zoe at Membership@CentralChamber.biz or call 727-584-2321
Upcoming
Saturday, March 13 – 12 Noon
Ribbon-Cutting & Open House
Join in the celebration of this new state-of-the facility!
Full Torque Fitness
12340 66th Street N, Suite 104
Largo, FL 33773
Tampa Bay COVID Update! February 22, 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 past week, to 1,277 per day over the 14-day period ending February 21, versus the 1,406 reported the prior week. At 6.74%, Tampa Bay's positive testing rate over the past week remains below the 10% threshold outlined in state and federal re-opening guidelines, but it increased from last week’s rate of 6.43%. Statewide, the positive testing rate was also below the 10% threshold and fell from 6.57% to 6.25%. The 7-day rolling average of Tampa Bay patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 decreased by 8.2% in the past week and, as of Sunday, 887 such patients were hospitalized.
Share info about your business…
Central Pinellas BizReach 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).

What: Central Pinellas BizReach 
Who: All Chamber members are eligible to provide business updates and special member-to-member offers/discounts.
When: Central Pinellas BizReach is distributed weekly on Fridays. Provide information/updates by noon the Wednesday prior. 
How: Provide the following via email to Zoe Basheska at membership@centralchamber.biz 
1. Business Name
2. Current business operations (i.e. restaurant with take out only from 9a to 9p).
3. Member offerings/discounts etc. (i.e. 20% off for chamber members, free webinar series on working remote, 20% of for first responders, etc.).
4. Images in jpg or png format with offer will be accepted. Please keep the image 3" x 3" in respect to others.
After COVID-19 cut Florida visitor numbers last year by about a third, tourism-marketing leaders have set a goal of beating a projection that the vital leisure and hospitality industries won’t return to normal until 2024.
Environmentalists and solar advocates worry that Florida utilities are pushing regulators to roll back or get rid of the state’s current rooftop solar policy. The utilities say the rules as they stand force regular customers to subsidize those who have rooftop solar.
Even as professional baseball, outdoor music venues, theme parks and resorts have been allowed to resume operations with safeguards in place, the cruise industry continues to cancel upcoming voyages every couple of months, pushing potential restart dates into who knows when.
With Gov. Ron DeSantis now pushing for a sweeping overhaul of state election laws, Florida is among almost three dozen states in which Republicans are looking to roll back voting access in the wake of last November’s election.
It’s that time of year when fresh Florida strawberries are in season and plentiful on store shelves. And new research shows you may be able to keep your strawberries plump for longer.
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:
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