Volume 16 l April 2021
 
Weekly eConnection
801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602 Largo, FL 33770
Tel: 727-584-2321 Fax: 727-586-3112
Membership Edition
Saluting Chamber Loyalty!
Our sincere thanks to the following businesses who renewed during the past four weeks. Their continued loyalty is inspiring! To learn more about them, please visit www.CentralChamber.biz
AAA Clearwater Car Care Plus, 15-Year Legacy Member
Achieva Credit Union, 15-Year Legacy Member
Bender Chiropractic Center, 26-Year Legacy Member
Bluewater Media, First Renewal
Community Veterinary Hospital/Paradise Pet Motel, First Renewal
Dr. Craig Baker, DMD, 12-Year Member
Electric Motors Lift Station Service, Inc., 8-Year Member
England Brothers Construction Company, 14-Year Member
Harbour Cay Apartments, 9-Year Member
Homeowners of Palm Hill, Inc., 29-Year Legacy Member
Jack Rice Insurance, LLC., 8-Year Member
Johns Hopkin's All Children's Hospital, 3-Year Member
Kakusha MHC, LLC, First Renewal
Largo Coin & Currency, 34-Year Legacy Member
McDonald Pest Control, 5-Year Member
NASCAR Car Wash Largo, 4-Year Member
Okey Ryan Associates, 7-Year Member
Ranchero Village, Inc., 51-Year Legacy Member
Salon Studio 400, 9-Year Member
Sean W. Scott Law Firm, 3-Year Member
State Farm-Team Cocco, 11-Year Member
The Flying Locksmiths, 6-Year Member
Ultimate Medical Academy, 3-Year Member
Ultra Electronics-Forensic Technology, 14-Year Member

(Legacy Member = 15 years or more)
Welcome, The Teehive Largo!
Keanan Vanek, store manager of The Teehive Largo, is a new Chamber member who recently attended our Chamber 101 New Member Coffee. Keanan and her associate Kayla can meet all your customized apparel needs. They’ll provide you exactly what you want for your school, event, sport, business, of if you’re just looking for that one special design. For more, please call 727-601-4604 or visit www.TheTeehive.com










To learn more about them, please visit www.CentralChamber.biz
Action Accounting
ACCOUNTING BUSINESS & TAX SERVICES
Daniel Ruffner
600 Bypass Drive, Suite 115
Clearwater, FL 33764
727-799-1040
 
BayCare Health Plans
MEDICAL INSURANCE
Joe Gennari
300 Park Place Blvd, Suite 170
Clearwater, FL 33759
727-512-0771
B2B Happy Hour - Holiday Inn St. Pete/Clearwater
A big thank you to Casey Bommersbach and her team at Holiday Inn St. Pete/Clearwater for hosting us. They are excited to welcome more guests and host more events in the upcoming months. We had a great turnout and the event was a great success!
Thank you to Advanced Video Systems for the photos and video.
This Thursday! Coffee An' Networking
Thursday, April 22nd - 7:30 to 9 a.m.
Keiser University - 16120 U.S. Highway 19 N., Clearwater, Florida 33764
FREE for Members; $25 for Non-members
Masks are required; Keiser does temperature checks & provides a waiver that must be signed upon arrival.
Space is limited, register here: Event Registration
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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COVID & THE WORKFORCE PANEL SPONSORSHIP FORM


BUSINESS: ___________________________ CONTACT: ________________________________


TELEPHONE: ____________________ SPONSORSHIP LEVEL: Presenting ____ Marketing ____


METHOD OF PAYMENT:     CHECK# ___________         CREDIT CARD (MC/VISA) ___________


CREDIT CARD NUMBER _______________________________________ EXPIRATION_______ 
SECURITY CODE _____

Please make check payable to Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce. Questions, call Zoe Basheska at 584-2321 or email 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
Tampa Bay COVID Update!  April 20, 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 increased this week, to 1,375 per day over the 14-day period ending April 18, versus the 1,242 reported last week. At 8.26%, 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 7.58%. Statewide, the positive testing rate was also below the 10% threshold and rose from 6.94% to 7.42%. The 7-day rolling average of Tampa Bay patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 increased by 6.7% in the past week and, as of Sunday, 818 such patients were hospitalized. To date, 1,107,857 Tampa Bay residents – an estimated 27.7% of the region’s nearly 4 million adults – have completed their COVID-19 vaccine sequence.
Tampa Bay COVID-19 Resident Survey Findings
During the past year, the Tampa Bay Partnership has conducted a series of scientific surveys to help understand how COVID-19 is impacting the personal and economic well-being of Tampa Bay residents.
In its latest (and final) survey, it finds that residents are increasingly optimistic about the region’s recovery from the pandemic. But nearly 1 in 4 are unlikely to get vaccinated against the virus, and that number rises significantly among the region’s Black residents and young residents.
With widespread distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, the end of the pandemic feels closer than ever. But the data suggests that in the weeks and months ahead, more outreach may be needed to certain segments of the population to increase adoption of the vaccine and prevent future spread. View the COVID-19 Resident Survey
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.
With just two weeks left before their scheduled adjournment, both chambers of the Republican-controlled Legislature are inching closer to a budget deal as they continue to work on a slate of bills central to the governor’s legislative agenda.
Florida restaurants are so desperate to fill critical jobs they are taking a page from the playbook of Silicon Valley headhunters: signing bonuses.
Gov. Ron DeSantis indicated he won’t support increasing weekly unemployment benefits for out-of-work Floridians. Florida has one of the stingiest unemployment systems in the country, paying a maximum weekly benefit of $275.
For the first time in over six decades, no one with the Castro surname will be at the helm of Cuba’s government. But there are still a few Castro family members in positions of influence.
While the theme parks are open and busy again, one force is still largely unemployed: The workers of Orlando’s multibillion-dollar convention industry.
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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