Volume 67 l April 2022

Weekly eConnection 801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602 Largo, FL 33770 Tel: 727-584-2321 Fax: 727-586-3112

President's Desk & Members' Promotions

From the President...

*****It’s officially spring, and the signs are everywhere! Longer days, blooming jacaranda, and marshmallow peeps. *****Keeping with this season of rebirth, we’re launching “NEW and reNEW in 2022,” a targeted campaign to grow the Chamber. And we need your help. *****On Thursday, May 5, we’re holding A Taste of the Chamber & Art of Engagement complimentary business breakfast. We’re looking for 50 members to each bring a business guest, someone that would benefit from Chamber membership. The goal is to sign them up that morning. *****We’ll be sending everyone a link to register in the next week. Please consider taking part. Thanks to our Campaign Patrons, the law firm McManus & McManus, Gulfside Wealth, Team Cocco State Farm, Check Before Hire, GarrisonPro and Centratel. *****Don’t forget to add to your calendar our Business in Springtime Expo on Thursday, April 21. It runs from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Largo’s Central Park Performing Arts Center. Dozens of your fellow Chamber members will be participating, so please stop by to show your support. There’s still room available if you’d like a table. Just give us a call. *****I hope to catch up with you soon at one of our events or committee meetings. *****All the best for a happy and prosperous month! *****Tom Morrissette

Piper Fire's 6th Annual Footgolf - Event date moved to May 13th!

Welcome New Member - Senior Life Publications

Last week, the Chamber and the Ambassadors Team welcomed new member, Senior Life Publications, with a Member Plaque presentation! From left to right: Gamal Megherfi of First Citizens Bank, Sue Osborne of Elison of Pinecrest, Richard Boisvert of Oyova, David Moss & Steven Halstead of Senior Life Publications, Collin Bottolfson of Gulfside Wealth and Stacy Gillis of Advanced Video Systems.

For more information, check out Senior Life Publications in our Business Directory.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Let's celebrate the grand opening of Gulfside Home Health's new location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a plaque presentation! When: Thursday, April 14 @ 8:30 AM Where: Gulfside Home Health 13770 58th St., Ste 305, Clearwater 33760 Register here.

It’s two weeks until showtime! Register here: Business in Springtime Expo

Register here: Business in Springtime Expo

Check Before Hire - Contact Kay Today!

Updates from the U.S. Chamber

Employers Have Guidance for Providing Childcare to Working Parents - The U.S. Chamber Foundation recently released an Employer Roadmap to offer childcare solutions for working parents. Sixty-two percent of businesses cited childcare as a factor in seeing employees leave the workforce. Quality childcare decreases absenteeism, improves productivity, and increases employee commitment. Click here to read the report.        Here’s What Businesses Need to Know About the Current Cyber Threat Landscape – Last week, President Biden issued a statement about our nation’s cybersecurity on the evolving intelligence that the Russian Government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks. The White House also released a detailed Fact Sheet on measures organizations can implement now to protect against potential cyberattacks. As the threat environment rapidly changes, no business is immune from attacks. To keep safe from potential cyber threats, please click here to read our recent article, Here’s What Businesses Need to Know About the Current Cyber Threat Landscape and also click here to read Ransomware: 10 Important Questions for Businesses Answered.

2022-23 Business & Community Go-to-Guide

Thank you to the following businesses for reserving their ads (to date): Signature Voices, Holiday Inn Express, Home Instead Senior Care, Pinellas Technical College, Business & Family Insurors, Inc., England Brothers Construction Company, Gulfside Home Health, Professional Systems Printing & Promotions, Fly High Business Builders, BayCare/Morton Plant Hospital, Melody Hunter - Charles Rutenberg Realty, Valley National Bank, Gulf Coast Consulting Inc., City of Largo/CPPAC, Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation, Fritts Marketing LLC, Centratel Business Telephones and McManus & McManus P.A.

Email Zoe at membership@centralchamber.biz to request sizes/comps and to reserve your ad. Click on the image above to download the form.

Florida's doctor deficit Florida's population is growing faster than its physician workforce. Filling the gap will require a range of responses. Hospitals have roughly doubled the number of residency slots in the state over the last six to seven years — but they’ll need to pick up the pace. Crypto craze on full display at bitcoin conference in Florida Thousands of cryptocurrency enthusiasts are gathering in Miami as the city builds its reputation as one of the key locations to develop the blockchain technology despite its underdog status. Florida COVID weekly update: New cases trend up for the first time in over a month Over the past three weeks, on average, 21 more cases were logged each day in Florida, showing an increase in trends. This is the first increase in over a month. With talk of shifting federal marijuana policy, Nikki Fried says it’s time for Florida to legalize it Following a U.S. House vote legalizing marijuana, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said Florida has a chance to lead on weed. Florida ranked 38th worst state for financial literacy, study says The state of Florida recently passed a new law requiring financial literacy education to graduate high school, with support from leaders, lawmakers and the community.

Thank you to our Trustees and Newsletter Sponsors

Bay Care/Morton Plant Hospital Business & Family Insurors Cloud Law Firm PA Duke Energy Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital Home Instead/Be a Santa Jackson & Associates CPA Melody Hunter, Charles Rutenberg Realty National Aviation Academy

Nova Southeastern University - Tampa Bay Piper Fire Protection Platinum Information Services Regions Bank Spectrum Reach The Palms of Largo Valley National Bank Village Inn Wealth Builders

The Weekly E-Connection is made possible by the following generous sponsors:

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