Pinellas County…

New Affordable Housing Dashboard Unveiled

   The “Live Local Act” Dashboard, seen above, allows the public to track affordable housing projects using the preemptions of Florida’s “Live Local” Act.

    The Act was signed into law last March and took effect on July 1. It’s designed to encourage affordable housing. Unlike previous legislation, the requirements are mandatory for local governments.

    Among its provisions, it overrules some local zoning and land use regulations for residential and mixed-use developments on industrial or commercial land if at least 40% of the units are affordable for at least 30 years. Pinellas County has limited industrial sites, and this provision could impact future economic growth. Check out the dashboard here: LIVE LOCAL DASHBOARD

Jared Austin, AICP, Principal Planner at Forward Pinellas, right, meets with members of the Chamber’s Business Development & Advocacy Committee. His agency recently unveiled the “Live Local” Affordable Housing Dashboard.

Welcome, Serenity Travel!

Chamber Ambassador Wendy Swertfeger of Legal Shield/ID Shield presents a new membership plaque to Donald and Sandy Sweet, owners of Serenity Travel. Located at 472 Clearwater-Largo Road in Largo, they’re experts in helping you plan a dream vacation. For more about them, visit https://www.serenity-travel.com/.

Coffee An' Networking at Pinellas Technical College

   The Chamber went back to school last week for Coffee An' Networking at Pinellas Technical College and learned that we are all smarter than we thought! We had a excellent turn out of members and prospects to enjoy a morning of casual networking. Thank you for attending!

    A special thanks to our sponsors, Imagine Orthodontic Studio, Cloud Law Firm, Piper Fire Protection, Cruise Planners, and coffee provider, D.O.D Coffee Roastery.

    Join us at the next Coffee An' Networking on June 20th at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo.

Register on the events calendar here!

5 things to know about Monday’s solar eclipse

Even though Florida isn’t in the sweet spot of totality that will start in Mexico and cross 15 states in the Midwest and Northeast, the state will get a partial solar eclipse, with the moon appearing to take a bite out of the sun.

With settlement done, will Disney restart political donations?

At the height of Disney’s feud with Gov. Ron DeSantis, the entertainment conglomerate stopped making political donations in Florida.

Florida to be in the path of totality for these three future total solar eclipses

Totality will not be visible in any part of Florida this year. However, the Sunshine State will see totality multiple times this century.

Florida tops list of best states to retire in 2024. Here's why

Out of all 50 states, the Sunshine State topped WalletHub's list of best states to retire, but with Florida's considerably high cost of living -- some might wonder why it's still the favorite among retirees.

Could online gambling provide millions to fight sea-level rise in Florida?

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law that could pump hundreds of millions of dollars into Florida’s struggling environment from an unlikely source: online gambling. There’s just one catch.

Acropol Family Restaurant

Bay Care/Morton Plant Hospital

Business & Family Insurors

Check Before Hire

Cloud Law Firm PA

Duke Energy

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital

HCA Florida Largo Hospital

Home Instead/Be a Santa

Jackson & Associates CPA

Melody Hunter Homes

National Aviation Academy

Pinellas County Housing Authority

Piper Fire Protection

Platinum Information Services

Regions Bank

State Farm - Team Cocco

The Palms of Largo

Valley National Bank

Village Inn

Visit St. Pete/Clearwater

Wealth Builders