On July 29 Pinellas County Economic Development’s Hard Hats and Taps event, co-hosted by the Florida Small Business Development Center, connected 91 attendees representing construction-related businesses and prime contractors in an informal setting at Bayboro Brewing in St. Petersburg, Florida. The goal? Help local businesses find new avenues for growth in a fun, informal setting.

Corey McCaster, Division Director of Pinellas County Economic Development’s Office of Small Business and Supplier Diversity said of the occasion, “Events like this are mission critical to our success in bringing together key stakeholders and local businesses. There are boundless opportunities for smaller companies to participate in large projects, but they need to know how to find those opportunities. Our superpower as an organization is having strong relationships with both sides – the prime contractors and local sub-contractors – and the ability to bring them together.”

It's not too late to prepare your business for hurricane season!

In fact, now is the perfect time to consider the risks specific to your business and create a resiliency plan to meet your unique needs. Our team of experts can help you build a customized businesses disaster plan, and our website provides tools to help guide you and your staff through preparation and recovery from storms of any strength,

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 national grant

Verizon, in partnership with LISC, will award $10,000 grants throughout the year. Complete any two eligible courses or events to unlock your application. Submit it anytime in 2026 and remain eligible all year. 10 small businesses will be selected for grants each month. If you are not selected in a given month, your application will remain eligible for future selections.

What Is a Merchant Cash Advance (MCA)?

A Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) is a form of alternative business financing where a company sells a portion of its upcoming credit card receipts or daily revenue to a funder in exchange for an immediate lump‑sum payment. Instead of traditional fixed installments, repayment happens automatically as a percentage of daily or weekly sales deposits. Because payments adjust with revenue levels, this option often appeals to businesses whose income varies throughout the month. Each provider, however, sets its own specific rules, costs, and qualification criteria.

In this article, Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development Consultant Debra Schweikowsky explains the details and pros and cons of MCAs to help small businesses make the best decisions for their needs.