Volume 50 l December 2019

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

Advocacy & Economic Development Edition

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

Central Pinellas Chamber Upcoming Events Check our home page for registrations, times and locations centralchamber.biz/events 12/12 - Ribbon Cutting - Brightway Insurance - 5:30p 12/13 - Chamber Annual Holiday Luncheon - 11:45a - 1:15p    1/23 - Focus on 2020: A Tampa Bay Economic Forecast - 7:30a - 9:30a    2/5 - Coffee An' Networking at SPCA Tampa Bay - 7:30a - 9:30a

Your voice matters! Annual Chamber Business Survey

The annual Chamber Business Survey has been distributed via email to all members of the organization. It will remain open through Friday, Jan. 3.        We hope to gain insight on how your business is doing, workforce issues and any challenges you currently face or expect to face in 2020. The Chamber will share this information with our local community leaders as well as our state leaders when our delegation visits Tallahassee in January. If you are not the primary contact at your business through your Chamber membership (check your listing at www.CentralChamber.biz ), but would like to be included in the survey, please email tom@centralchamber.biz .

Consumer Spending and Consumer Confidence

Personal spending was up 0.3% in October, according to the Department of Commerce. This happened even with no gain in household incomes. The Conference Board said that its Consumer Confidence Index came in at 125.5 for November. Even though it has declined for four straight months, the index remains well above levels seen during the first half of the decade.

A win for the Chamber! Florida orders cut in workers' compensation insurance rates

Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier has signed off on reducing workers’ compensation insurance rates for Florida businesses beginning Jan. 1. Altmaier signed a final order earlier this month, reducing average rates by 7.5% for new and renewed workers’ compensation policies. That is a deeper rate cut than a 5.4% reduction initially recommended this summer by the National Council on Compensation Insurance, which makes rate filings for workers’ compensation insurers. These rate cuts have been a part of the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda for the past several years.

Tampa airport to add amenities for nursing moms and service dogs

Passengers at Tampa International Airport, take heart. Three things you ask for most are on the way: Nursing rooms for breastfeeding moms, outdoor pet-relief areas near departure and arrival gates for service animals, and water-bottle refill stations. Compared with larger projects in the airport’s $2 billion expansion program, these additions are small. Still, they are expected to resonate with passengers.  [Source: Tampa Bay Times ]

Flu season off to a faster, ‘unusual’ start in Florida

This year’s flu season has had its fastest start in Florida, and among other southern states and Puerto Rico, in 15 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Seasonal influenza activity in the United States has been elevated for four weeks and continues to increase,” the CDC reported on Nov. 30 at the end of week 48 of the year. [Source:  Miami Herald ]

Florida among least healthiest states, report finds

Florida is the thirty-third healthiest state in the country this year, dropping four spots from its 2018, according to a new report published by the United Health Foundation. For the America's Health Ranking's 2019 Annual Report, researchers assessed several factors that fell under the categories of behaviors, policy, community and environment, clinical care and outcomes. [Source:  Biz Journals ]

Ribbon Cutting Last week, we were honored to celebrate the renaming of the Bardmoor Oaks Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center at their Ribbon Cutting. It was a wonderful event with great attendance. They have a beautiful facility and professional staff. Thank you  Bardmoor Oaks and congratulations . It's Great to Belong!

We’re about Value!  A new Chamber program year is upon us! And we’ll be continuing to tout our five “value” principles and how each relates to being part of the organization.             Value of Investment - The Chamber brings members valuable cost-savings resources that directly impact their bottom line. From member-to-member discounts to affinity partnerships - all are designed to lower the cost of doing business.             Value of Information – The Chamber brings members unique resources. Roundtable discussions, workshops, advocacy on local and state issues, contacts, reference to other businesses, expertise, etc. Information that is timely and relevant to the success of all business operations.             Value of Influence – The Chamber represents the interests of its members and communities. Whether at the local, state or federal level, it is the advocate on all issues of importance to business.             Value of Interaction – The Chamber provides its members opportunity. People want to do business with people they know, like and trust. Networking events, B2B programs, and partnerships foster relationships that encourage leads, referrals and more business for our members.             Value of Impact – The Chamber is one of the few, if not the only, organization that can impact the three main pillars in its service area – government, citizens, and businesses. We deliver results that directly benefit our members. If you would like to assist in volunteering on a committee to help influence these values, just give us a call. It’s another sure way to build business connections. It really is great to belong!

Reserve your space now! Run your Ad or Logo in the Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce's eConnection Newsletter that publishes weekly. Be seen by over 2,000 members and friends. Take advantage of an open/read rate that exceeds 25%.   Contact Kelvin at the Chamber, 727.584.2321 or events@centralchamber.biz

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