Pinellas County firms make up 22 percent of the Technology Fast 50 winners: Eleven of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in the 21-county Florida High Tech Corridor are situated in Pinellas County. The Fast 50 are compiled by Deloitte & Touche LLP, which ranks corridor businesses based on revenue growth over a five-year period. Pinellas Fast 50 firms are (in alphabetical order): Aerosonic Corporation, Catalina Marketing, Constellation Technology Corporation, Custom Manufacturing and Engineering, Digital Lightwave, Inc., Jabil Circuit, Inc., Jagged Peak, NexTrade Holdings, Inc., Nicholas Data Services, Inc., OpenNetwork Technologies and Sterling Research Group, Inc. For information, call (727) 464-7332.

MEDWEEK (Minority Economic Development Week) theme is "Strategies for Growth in the American Economy, Part II: The Entrepreneurial Economy:" MEDWEEK, which runs September 9-12 at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, promotes economic development and education for minority business owners. Participants learn about Small Business Administration programs and certifications, how to open and run a franchise, and which loans are available to small businesses. Cynthia Spearman, PCED Senior Business Assistance Manager, will speak at a free breakfast seminar on Wednesday, September 11, on "9/11-The Effect on Businesses." MEDWEEK events are free and open to the public. For information, contact (727) 892-5798.

Veracruz Inbound Trade Mission strengthens ties between Pinellas business and Mexico: Pinellas companies will network with Mexican business representatives participating in the Veracruz Inbound Trade Mission, August 21-23, at the Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel in Tampa. The three-day event offers information on Veracruz business and investment opportunities and how to export to Mexico from Florida. More than 40 Mexican business representatives will meet one-on-one in multiple meetings with Pinellas business owners to develop stronger ties between Veracruz and the Tampa Bay business community. For information, contact (727) 464-7423.

Don't miss Good Business Pinellas Radio on WHNZ: The show, produced by Pinellas County Economic Development, now airs Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on WHNZ 1250 AM Radio. WHNZ, a 25,000-watt station, allows listeners to easily access the one-hour broadcast from either end of Pinellas County and beyond. Tune in every Wednesday at 1 p.m. and learn why business is good in Pinellas! For information, contact (727) 464-7498 or visit our website - www.siliconbay.org.

Pinellas Park now has a Business Assistance Specialist to help you: Welcome to Jeff Girard, the new Pinellas Park business assistance specialist. Jeff is one the ten Pinellas County business assistance partnership specialists (BAPS) who provide help to their communities with business counseling, loan preparation and presentation, business plan writing, and understanding state and local resources and incentives. BAPS are located at their respective chambers and are part of a tri-partnership between the city, its chamber of commerce, and Pinellas County. For information, contact (727) 544-4777.

A Pinellas firm doing business here for 75 years is featured on this week's Good Business Pinellas TV: Eva-Tone is still doing cutting edge business in Pinellas. Also, see the multiple features of Parkside Mall. Watch the new Good Business Pinellas show at 7 p.m. nightly on St. Petersburg College 19 and many other times on Pinellas 18. For information, contact (727) 464-7498.

For further information about Pinellas County business, visit www.siliconbay.org or call Pinellas County Economic Development at (727) 464-7332.