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Contact Us At
(727) 443-0217
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NEWSLETTER
June/July 2019
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Greetings!
We hope you enjoy the latest version of the Clearwater Business SPARK newsletter. We are over half way through the year and know that you are busy reaching your business goals for 2019. Your Clearwater Business SPARK partners are here to assist you in all areas of your business needs including coaching and training, educational programs, access to capital, importing and exporting guidance, 3-D printing, design and production services as well as networking opportunities, business expansion and permitting assistance and much more! If there is an area where you seek professional guidance, give us a call today and we will connect you to one of our partners.
Clearwater Business
SPARK
- Where Success Begins.
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Launched in 2016, Clearwater Business SPARK is a network of partners that support local small businesses and entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their businesses.
Clearwater Business SPARK provides business programs and services including business planning and coaching, educational programs, networking opportunities and guidance for doing business with the federal government and international markets. Clearwater Business SPARK also offers access to databases and market research tools, a variety of co-working, meeting and training spaces and hands-on tools and activities at Studios@Main, a unique makerspace located within the Clearwater Main Library.
Current network partners include St. Petersburg College, Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation, Pinellas County SCORE, Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, Clearwater Public Library System, Prospera, the city of Clearwater’s Economic Development and Housing Department, and Florida Small Business Development Center at Pinellas County Economic Development.
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NEWS & BUSINESS AROUND CLEARWATER
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North Marina District Welcomes Clearwater Brewing Company
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On May 5, the Clearwater Brewing Company opened its doors and held a grand opening celebration at its new location, located at 1700 N. Ft. Harrison Ave. in Clearwater's up and coming North Marina District.
The grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration brought large crowds and brew enthusiasts from all over the bay area. Mayor Cretekos even served the first beer to a very happy customer! The city of Clearwater's Economic Development Division assisted Clearwater Brewing Company with a loan-to-grant fund from the city's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Estolita Bowling, co-owner of the Clearwater Brewing Company, was delighted to work with the city of Clearwater's Economic Development Division. "
You have been one of our biggest cheerleaders from the beginning," she said. "I know that our opening wouldn't have been as successful if it weren't for you."
Next time you're headed downtown, make sure to stop and enjoy a cold one. You won't regret it! For more information and to view Clearwater Brewing Company's menu click here:
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The Dali Museum’s Dreams of Dali Virtual Reality Pop-up Exhibition is in Downtown Clearwater
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To schedule a group experience, call Tarin Mohajeri, Program Coordinator, at (727) 337-0486. Check out these fun events scheduled for the month of June:
June 8 12 to 5p.m.
Blast Off with Summer Reading and Technology.
Join the Clearwater Main Library at Second Century Studios in Downtown Clearwater to learn about this year’s space-themed summer reading events and get hands on with the STEM gadgets -- including robots, virtual reality gear, microscopes, and more -- available for kids.
June 15 12 to 5p.m.
Creator Resources at the Library: Video, Audio, and Photo
Test out the library’s green screen software at Second Century Studios with a fun photo and learn about all the video, photo, and audio production resources available from the Clearwater Main Library.
June 22 10a.m. to 5p.m.
3-D Printing, Art, and More at the Library
See a 3-D printer in action at Second Century Studios and learn about the specialized services and technology classes available from the Clearwater Main Library.
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Now until June 30 you can experience the Dreams of Dalí virtual reality exhibit at Second Century Studios, 331 Cleveland St. in Downtown Clearwater.
Part of The Dalí Museum’s mission is to delight and educate visitors while serving as an active resource in the cultural life of our community and the world. As an example of the museum’s commitment to community engagement, The Dalí Museum has partnered with the city of Clearwater's Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to offer an award-winning
Dreams of Dalí
virtual reality experience to the residents, businesses and visitors of Clearwater.
The Dali Pop-Up @
Second Century Studios
331 Cleveland St. Suite A
Now–June 30, 2019
Wednesdays & Thursdays 11am-7pm
Fridays Noon-9pm
Saturdays & Sundays 10am-5pm.
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Community Bike Ride from Downtown Clearwater to Downtown Dunedin is a Success
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More than 30 bike riders -- including two children -- rode from Downtown Clearwater to Downtown Dunedin on May 15 to celebrate National Bike Month and Infrastructure Week.
The 5-mile, family-friendly bicycle ride – called Downtown to Trail Town -- allowed participants to learn about the projects that are in the works in these two growing cities.
Bicyclists in the Downtown to Trail Town event learned about Clearwater's plans for Coachman Park, the projects that encompass Imagine Clearwater and the Complete Streets plans for Drew Street. They also learned about Clearwater's plans for the North Marina Area and the multi-million dollar upgrade to the Seminole Boat Launch.
The ride continued north on the Pinellas Trail to Dunedin.
In Dunedin, the trip included a visit to Dunedin Stadium, the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays that will be renovated and enhanced in the near future. Bicyclists visited the Lari White Music Pavilion and learned about the city’s Trail Town designation and planned development projects. They also visited Skinner Boulevard, a well-utilized roadway for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians.
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Are you looking to
START
,
GROW
or
EXPAND
your business in the greater Clearwater area?
Clearwater Business SPARK offers a network of resources to support businesses and entrepreneurs in every stage of development.
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Helping Hispanic Entrepreneurs Grow
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Whether you’re an existing business or a startup, new to the country or born here, now you can partner with an organization that wants to see you succeed and achieve new levels of growth in your business.
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The
Florida Small Business Development Center
at Pinellas County Economic Development
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Personalized Business Consulting is available by appointment through the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pinellas County Economic Development. Providing businesses the expertise and resources to succeed. We help businesses grow!
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Employers in manufacturing, information technology, healthcare, construction and trades across Florida have jobs they need to fill. So St. Petersburg College (SPC) has teamed up with two other Florida colleges through a $5 million federal grant to establish an apprenticeship program that benefits both employers and employees. If you're interested in exploring this opportunity, reach out to our region's recruiter, listed below.
Contact
Gabriel Yeager, M.A.
Apprenticeship Employer Recruiter
College of Computer & Information Technology
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"This is a truly inclusive program that will help workers attain the critical on-the-job training needed to bolster the American workforce in the growing global economy."
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Mike Meidel, Director of Pinellas County Economic Development
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Pinellas County SCORE Offers FREE Business Mentoring
Find the right mentor and see what Pinellas County SCORE can do for you and your business!
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Get to Know Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corp.
The Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation, Inc. (BBIC) is a U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to providing business and funding opportunities for the long-term growth and success of small businesses. Tampa Bay BBIC was established as a nonprofit in 1987 to serve businesses owned and operated by African-American entrepreneurs, providing loans to a historically underserved market segment of the community, but now serves entrepreneurs of all ethnic backgrounds.
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Be Prepared When Disaster Strikes
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The Go Box for your business should contain copies of important documents and supplies, as well as information needed to reopen your business as soon as possible, file insurance claims and apply for loans in the aftermath of a disaster. As we approach Florida's hurricane season, use this
GO BOX CHECKLIST
to make sure you're prepared! Click the yellow Go Box Check List to download a copy. Florida's hurricane tax-exempt holiday runs June 1-6.
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We want to wish all of our businesses and community partners a
Happy Fourth of July
! The Clearwater Business SPARK office and the office of Economic Development & Housing Department will be closed. We hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday!
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POLL! We Need Your Input!
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Do you prefer networking events in the morning, afternoon or evening?
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Five Ways to Connect with Clearwater Business SPARK
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The Clearwater Business
SPARK
newsletter is produced bi-monthly by the city of Clearwater Economic Development & Housing Department and Public Communications Department staff.
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(727) 443-0217
info@ClearwaterBusinessSPARK.com
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