E-Connection - End of Month Edition

Volume 232 | May 2025

Weekly E-Connection

801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602 Largo, FL 33770

Tel: 727-584-2321 www.CentralChamber.biz

It's Great to Belong!

End of Month Edition

May 27 2025

Expo flashback...

Tossing for a good cause!

Karen Gonzalez and daughter Michaela of Business & Family Insurors take tries for a bottle of spirits at the recent Chamber Business in Springtime Expo. The ring toss was presented by the Women’s Leadership Committee. Proceeds benefit the Chamber Education Fund providing student and business education programs and scholarships. Nearly $500 was raised! Thanks to all who donated time, bottles and took a chance with the rings.

Final days! Advertising Deadline 5/30

2025/26 Chamber Biz Go-to-Guide

Members of the Chamber Board (Jake Prokop, Danielle Noble, Tom Wilson, Karen Gonzalez, Dan Flynn and Laurie Bunce) remind you that now is the time to act. Our Business & Community Go-to-Guide is a once-a-year opportunity to advertise in our only printed publication. It's mailed directly to all our members and distributed in bulk to our advertisers, city and community centers and more. Advertising deadline is Friday, May 30!

Rates range from $150 to $1,400

Sizes still available include:

Half Page - 5 x 3.625 - Quarter Page Vertical - 2.5 x 3.5

Quarter Page Horizontal - 5 x 1.75 - One-Eighth Page - 2.5 x 1.75

To request a copy of the advertising rates and reservation form, email Tom@CentralChamber.biz or call 727-584-2321.

3 Ways to Prepare Your Business for Hurricane Season

Business Hurricane Disaster Preparedness Week, May 26 – 31

Prepare for hurricane season with the FSBDC at Pinellas County! Learn how to protect your people, safeguard your property, and preserve your profits.

1. Make an appointment with a Florida Small Business Development Consultant at PCED.ORG/Consulting

2. Register for our virtual hurricane preparedness workshop series at PCED.ORG/Workshops

Tuesday, May 27, 12-1 pm – Business Resiliency and Continuity
Friday, May 30, 10-11 am – Protecting Your Property

3. Attend Hurricane Preparedness Day and visit FSBDC’s table, May 31 in St. Petersburg - details at stpete.org/Hurricane

Contact businesshelp@pinellas.gov for more information.

For sponsorship details, email SpecialEvents@Largo.com or click here: Largo 4th

Record travel in Florida Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend is expected to break travel records. AAA predicts millions will board flights or hit the roads across the state.

Charlotte County scraps 2050 plan for highway through Ranchettes -- After hearing strong opposition from residents, the Charlotte County Metropolitan Planning Organization Board voted to remove a proposed four-lane road through the Ranchettes rural area from its 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan.

Miami-Dade eyes replacing Metromover system amid rising costs, frequent shutdowns -- While no final decisions have been made about the free, automated transit service that loops through downtown Miami, officials confirmed several replacement proposals are under review.

Controversial rock mine plan in Everglades gets county approval

Palm Beach County’s commissioners on Thursday night voted 6-0 to approve a controversial rock mining project in the Everglades Agricultural Area, south of Lake Okeechobee.

Ahead of Starship's arrival, Cape Canaveral to study rocket launch noise, vibrations -- Cape Canaveral residents are concerned about potential structural damage to buildings caused by increasingly frequent and powerful rocket launches.