Volume 11 l March 2021
 
Weekly eConnection
801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602 Largo, FL 33770
Tel: 727-584-2321 Fax: 727-586-3112


Membership Edition
Saluting Chamber Loyalty!
Our sincere thanks to the following businesses who renewed during the past four weeks. Their continued loyalty is inspiring! To learn more about them, please visit www.CentralChamber.biz
Alexander Spine Center, 10-Year Member
Cloud Law Firm, PA, 4-Year Member, SILVER TRUSTEE
CPA Partners, LLC, 7-Year Member
CPWG Engineering, 4-Year Member
DITEK- Diversified Technology Group, 28-Year Legacy Member
Full Torque Fitness, LLC, 4-Year Member
GTE Financial, 9-Year Member
Harbour Cay Apartments, 9-Year Member
IberiaBank, First Renewal
Largo Coin & Currency, 34-Year Legacy Member
Learning Empowered, 4-Year Member
Mary Kay-Penny Jackson, 7-Year Member
Natures Food Patch, 2-Year Member
Nova Southeastern University/Tampa Bay Regional Campus, SILVER TRUSTEE
Ranchero Village, Inc., 51-Year Legacy Member
S.S. White Technologies, Inc., 2-Year Member
Signature Voices, 5-Year Member
Staples, 3-Year Member
Suncoast Performing Arts Foundation, 15-Year Legacy Member
Value Properties of Central Florida, 7-Year Member
Vernon Sales Promotion, 15-Year Legacy Member
Wealth Builders, 11-Year Member, SILVER TRUSTEE
Winding Lane Homes, 10-Year Member

(Legacy Member = 15 years or more)










To learn more about them, please visit www.CentralChamber.biz

Moore Social LLC
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT
Clayton & GraceBelize Moore
7606 Ridge Road, Apt 206F
Seminole, FL 33772
727-542-5011
 
Suncoast Center, Inc.
NON-PROFIT/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SEXUAL ASSAULT, CHILD ADVOCACY
Fiona Rodgers
3800 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL 33771
727-327-7656
 
United Water Restoration Group
WATER RESTORATION
James Fleming
3734 131st Street N
Clearwater, FL 33762
727-202-1226
The 2021-2022 Directory & Go-to-Guide

Since the onset of COVID, your Chamber’s Central Pinellas Business & Go-To-Guide is being requested more than ever.
We’re running out of stock, and are now preparing a 2021-2022 edition.
There are plenty of advertising opportunities to showcase your business. Deadline extended to April 16!
Call Kelvin Mack at (727)584-2321 or email him at events@centralchamber.biz to discuss the details or request a fillable PDF to easily submit your information.
Full Torque Fitness Ribbon-Cutting
Congrats to Dan Shipman and his team at Full Torque Fitness on their new training center. The Chamber celebrated the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony over the weekend. Visit their website www.fulltorquefitness.com
Check out the ribbon-cutting video here: Full Torque Fitness Video
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies
 
Chamber Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies are another great way to get your business noticed! Cost is $150, and we’ll be sure you get plenty of visibility for that special occasion.  For more, reach out to Zoe at Membership@CentralChamber.biz or call 727-584-2321
Coming soon...
  • Coffee An' Networking
  • B2B Happy Hour
Tampa Bay COVID Update! March 14, 2021
The COVID-19 Regional Re-Opening Dashboard tracks the critical and official public health metrics that guide Tampa Bay residents and policymakers to safely re-open our economy.
It’s produced by the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Case growth rates in Tampa Bay decreased this past week, to 928 per day over the 14-day period ending March 14, versus the 1,049 reported the prior week. At 5.42%, Tampa Bay's positive testing rate over the past week remains below the 10% threshold outlined in state and federal re-opening guidelines, and decreased from last week’s rate of 5.76%. Statewide, the positive testing rate was also below the 10% threshold and fell from 5.59% to 5.31%. The 7-day rolling average of Tampa Bay patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 decreased by 10.5% in the past week and, as of Sunday, 644 such patients were hospitalized.
Florida Economic Indicators for January 2021
(Source: FL Dept. of Economic Opportunity)
·  Unemployment rate is 4.8 percent. (December 2020’s unemployment rate has been revised down to 5.1 percent, from the previously reported rate of 6.1 percent).
·  Florida businesses gained 1,700 private sector jobs over the month.
·  Labor force was up 25,000 over the month, bringing the January 2021 total up to 10,069,000.
·  Florida’s private sector over the year job rate decline was 6.5 percent in January 2021. This in an improvement from 14.3 percent in April 2020.
·  Private sector industries gaining the most jobs over-the-month were:
·  Trade, Transportation, and Utilities with 4,400 new jobs
·  Construction with 3,500 new jobs
·  Education and Health Services with 3,200 new jobs
·  Other Services with 1,700 new jobs
·  Consumer Sentiment Index was 82.6 in January 2021, 0.4 point higher than the December revised figure of 82.2. 
Click here to view the January 2021 regional jobs report: Tampa Bay
Vaccinations open up to people 60 and older Monday.
A measure that would shield businesses from COVID-related lawsuits could make it before the Florida Senate later this week.
The bill would add “fumes and particle emissions” to the existing list of defensible practices.
Amtrak’s Silver Star train will once again operate seven days week.
New study shows National Flood Insurance Program undercharges owners, making it cheaper and easier for people to live in dangerous places.
Share info about your business…
Central Pinellas BizReach E-Connection
For a nominal fee of $35 per issue or $100 a month, you can highlight news about your business opening and specials. Here are the details.
One entry for $35, four entries for $100 (you can edit from week to week).
For non-profits: One entry for $13, four entries for $50.

All Chamber members are eligible to provide business updates and special member-to-member offers/discounts. Central Pinellas BizReach is distributed weekly on Fridays. Provide information/updates by noon the Wednesday prior. Images in jpg or png format with offer will be accepted.
Via email to Zoe Basheska at membership@centralchamber.biz 
 
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
Spectrum Reach
The Palms of Largo
Valley National Bank
Wealth Builders
The Weekly E-Connection is made possible by the following generous sponsors: