More than 300 attend Pinellas Community Redevelopment Opportunities Summit, December 12 & 13. The summit's goal was to build consensus for the economic future of Pinellas County. It was presented by the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners and Pinellas Planning Council, and sponsored by Progress Energy. Forty-five percent of the attendees were in government; 28% in business;14% were non-profit or citizen group representatives; 7% were individuals; and 6% represented chambers or industry groups. A survey, comprised of 15 questions, was taken on the second day. Here are the questions that generated the most "strongly agree" or "agree" responses:

- 93% positive: As the county will likely begin to have a significant economic decline beginning in 2011 as a result of approaching physical "build-out," the community should actively initiate programs to prevent this decline;

- 88% positive: Continued growth of the county's primary job base is important, even though some additional congestion and impacts can be anticipated;

- 87% positive: An improved regulatory uniformity and intergovernmental coordination among separate local jurisdictions should be redevelopment goals;

- 85% positive: We should work to preserve identifiable residential neighborhoods to maintain our current housing stock as an integral component of redevelopment;

- 83% positive: Closed shopping malls and strip centers should be re-designated for high-density mixed-use development;

- 81% positive: Increased density/mixed uses should be allowed in proposed station areas to make a rail/enhanced bus transit system viable;

- 79% positive: There should be a dedicated source of funding for economic redevelopment in Pinellas County.

Complete survey results are available, along with all speakers' presentations, on Economic Development's website - www.siliconbay.org. For information, call (727) 464-7332.

Industrial Revenue Bonds bring $15.2 million to Pinellas County: Since January 2002, Pinellas County has issued three Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs), two awards to manufacturing companies and one to a nonprofit corporation. IRBs are tax free, below market rate, long term fixed asset financing tools for manufacturing projects. Funds are used for renovating, adding and building new facilities. If you are interested, call (727) 464-7398.

Young-Rainey STAR Center considered for technology incubator or accelerator program: The Suncoast Technology Expertise Accelerator Project, a regional effort to obtain federal grant money and create an accelerator for science, technology and manufacturing companies, is considering relocating to the Young-Rainey STAR Center in Largo. The center's first test for the accelerator project will be to negotiate an incubator-type lease with a business, possibly one involved with Tech Village, now located at the University of Tampa and scheduled to close by the end of this month. For information, call (727) 464-7332.

Economic Development e-business newsletter lands SEDC award: Tips, Trends & Technology, Pinellas Economic Development's newsletter (which you are now reading), was presented an Award of Excellence in Newsletter and Newspapers/Large Division from the Southern Economic Development Council's Literature and Promotion Awards Competition in November. Tips, Trends & Technology is sent to more than 3,500 online subscribers, and is also available for distribution in print to the public and local area chambers of commerce. For information, call (727) 464-7425.

Remember Good Business Pinellas TV and Radio: Good Business Pinellas TV airs nightly at 7 p.m. on SPC TV Channel 19 and at various times on Pinellas 18 and Channel 15 in St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Also, listen to Good Business Pinellas Radio, WHNZ 1250 AM, at 1 p.m., every Wednesday, and anytime - 24/7 - on www.siliconbay.org. For information, call (727) 464-7498.