Volume 32 l July 2021

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

President's Desk Report Edition

From the President’s Desk ****Greetings! *****With these dog days of summer comes your Chamber’s annual review of programs to establish our goals for the new program year starting October 1. *****Later this month, the Board of Directors and Committee Leadership will meet to develop and approve a Program of Work for 2021/2022. This is the working document that defines the organization’s direction for the next 12 months. *****Your input, as a Chamber member, is vital in helping to establish this direction. If you have any suggestions as to ways the organization can better serve the business community, please share them with me. You can give me a call or email tom@centralchamber.biz and I will present your ideas directly to the Board. *****Also, please reserve the morning of Thursday, September 30 on your calendar. We will be holding the Chamber’s 68th Annual Meeting & Awards Breakfast from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. Look for your invitation in the upcoming weeks. *****Best wishes for a storm free and prosperous month! *****Tom Morrissette

Your input is vital! Please take a few seconds now

Chamber Workforce Needs Survey ******Too many jobs. Not enough workers. It’s a concern being voiced here and across the country. Your Chamber is exploring a new service we’re calling ChamberWORKS. The goal is to develop a communication chain that links employers with employee resources and educators. Your response to this brief survey will assist us in our efforts.   CP Chamber Workforce Needs Survey

12th Annual Inspire Awards: Tickets are available for purchase here.

Eight-Time Emmy-Winner to Emcee Inspire Awards ’21! ******The Chamber’s Women’s Leadership Committee has announced that Lissette Campos, eight-time Emmy Award winning journalist, media and communications strategist, will be the emcee of this year’s prestigious Inspire Awards on August 19. (More below) ******Ms. Campos, a former news anchor and community affairs director, is credited with creating initiatives that have raised the bar for program quality and have made a lasting and positive impact in the Tampa Bay region. She is best known as the creator and host of “Positively Tampa Bay”, which focused on local non-profits and advocacy groups, and the “Taking Action Against Domestic Violence” campaign at WFTS-TV. ******Her career also includes leadership roles in Crisis Communications and Public Affairs for the Disney Company, University of South Florida/ USF Health and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida. She is a proud member of the WEDU Community Advisory Board, The Spring of Tampa Bay Board of Directors and the Ybor City Museum Society Board of Trustees.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11 Double-Header Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies Join us to celebrate two new members to the Chamber with dual Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies!

When: August 11th @ 4:30 p.m. Where: 1765 Clearwater-Largo Rd. Unit 1 & 2 Register here or email membership@centralchamber.biz

Register here: B2B Coffee An'

2021 Annual Chamber Community Awards: Nominations now open!

*****Throughout our community and within the organization are many individuals worthy of acclaim. *****To spotlight their contributions in helping to make our community a better place to live and work, the Chamber each year presents its “Citizen of the Year” and “Mac Norcross Small Business Person of the Year” awards. *****These distinguished honors will be presented at our 68th Annual Awards Breakfast on Thursday, Sept. 30 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. It’s with much pomp and circumstance that we add these two individuals to the celebrated company of past recipients. ******Use this link for Awards Criteria, Nomination Form and list of past recipients: https://www.centralchamber.biz/annual-chamber-awards ******Please take the time to consider if there is someone you know who embodies the characteristics of these honors, and submit your nomination(s) by Friday, Sept. 3. If you have any questions, call Tom at 584-2321 or email tom@CentralChamber.biz.

ChamberCARES! in support of Santa to a Senior

Florida COVID-19 cases surge to highest one-day total Florida new daily COVID count soared to a one-day record on Saturday with its highest case load during the entire pandemic. There’s hope for the unemployed seeking to reclaim federal benefits Favorable court decisions in three states could be a sign of hope for unemployed Floridians seeking to reinstate federal benefits cut off by the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Florida has disbursed 2 percent of rent aid as eviction moratorium ending The state of Florida has received more than $870 million from the federal government to make landlords whole and keep renters in their homes during the pandemic, and expects to receive a grand total of more than $1.56 billion as more money is distributed. Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday returns Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday returned this weekend with residents getting the levies waived for purchases of school supplies, clothing and computers. Publix orders all employees to wear masks again starting Monday The Lakeland-based chain says the requirement applies regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

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 Village Inn Wealth Builders

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