Highlighed Programs Recovery Zone Facility Bonds Economic Gardening SBA ARC Loans Target Sector Trade Events Grants   Recovery/Stimulus Links Business-focused Tampa Bay Partnership Enterprise Florida SBA Information and tracking Pinellas County Government (local) FLARecovery.com (state) Recovery.gov (federal)  Job search and training WorkNet Pinellas Unemployment Claims   Networking Directory Find a Vendor/Supplier    Add your company (no cost)  Business Opportunities Pinellas Opportunities Pinellas County Purchasing Doing Business with Pinellas Co. (SBE Program) FBO.gov (federal ops) FL Dept. of Transportation Pinellas Co. Schools City of St. Petersburg City of Clearwater City of Largo City of Oldsmar Investment Tools Job Creation Tax Rebates Sales Tax Exemptions Training Grants Calendar and Events Business Classes Community Events   Success Stories JSKaraoke Expansion Aided by Full-Service Capabilities of Pinellas Economic Development

Recovery Zone Facility Bonds offer over $20 Million in Tax-exempt Bond Financing to Pinellas Companies On December 1, 2009, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners designated the entire county a Recovery Zone.  This designation allows Pinellas County Economic Development to offer more than $20 million in tax-exempt bond financing to qualified Pinellas County companies.  The Recovery Zone Bonds will be issued through the Pinellas County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA), and administeredaccording to U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service guidelines. While the PCEDA will issue bonds on behalf of approved applicants, the PCEDA is a conduit for the financing and will not directly loan money to applicants.  Prior to the issuance of bonds, applicants must secure a bank or other financial institution to purchase and/or provide credit support for the bonds.  Click here to learn more.   Economic Gardening to Cultivate Companies: Second-stage companies in Florida have generated 36% of the jobs created by firms headquartered in the state. GrowFL will focus on expanding these privately-held firms in targeted industries (page 3 of 3). This pilot program provides technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. Click here to learn more.     JSKaraoke Expansion Aided by Full-Service Capabilities of Pinellas Economic Development   Illustrating the full-service capabilities of Pinellas County’s Department of Economic Development, client JSKaraoke utilized the agency’s resources to expand its Pinellas County operations.  Says Jack Strauser, CEO and President of JSKaraoke, “We approached Pinellas County Economic Development for assistance with financing our growing business and gained so much more than that.  With their aid, we applied for and received an Economic Gardening loan, were connected to hiring assistance, and developed a new marketing strategy.”   Read more of this story here.       What is the Economic Gardening Business Loan Pilot Program? The Economic Gardening Business Loan Pilot Program will help provide loan support to businesses with between 10 and 50 employees that are poised to create high-wage jobs in Florida. The loans, up to $250,000 per business, can help companies with working capital purchases, employee training or salaries for newly created jobs. The interest rate of the loan is 2% for a period of four years. During the first year of the loan, payment is due for interest only and payable during the twelth month. Click here to learn more.   $35,000 for Small Business Relief through SBA's ARC Loan Program - If your small business is stressed meeting expenses during these economic times, the U.S. Small Business Administration has a new loan program designed just for you. SBA’s America’s Recovery Capital Loan Program can provide up to $35,000 in short-term relief for viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship to help ride out the current uncertain economic times and return to profitability.  Click here to learn more and find lenders in Pinellas County.   Small Business SBA Lending Success Stories Borrowers, lenders discuss SBA lending, stimulus funding(Tampa Bay Business Journal)  Small business borrowers spotlighted (TBNWeekly.com)   Treasury, Energy Announce More than $3 Billion in Recovery Act Funds for Renewable Energy Projects   As part of an innovative partnership aimed at increasing economic development in urban and rural areas while setting our nation on the path to energy independence, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Energy announced an estimated $3 billion for the development of renewable energy projects around the country and made available the guidance businesses will need to submit a successful application.  Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), the program will provide direct payments in lieu of tax credits in support of an estimated 5,000 bio-mass, solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy production facilities. Treasury and Energy have made available the terms and conditions, guidance, and a sample application at http://www.treas.gov/recovery/1603.shtml   The Treasury Department is now accepting applications for this program.  To apply go to https://treas1603.nrel.gov/.      Business-focused Stimulus and Recovery Sites   The Tampa Bay Partnership's Stimulus Summary for Business - This site is a regional business information sharing forum to gather and exchange latest news, expert insights and coordinate action.  Enterprise Florida's International Stimulus Program helps accelerate the state’s economy by strengthening international trade and investment. These four initiatives are designed to increase international trade activity for Florida exporters and generate potential foreign investment leads for the state’s communities.  U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) - The Recovery Act assigns a key role in this effort to the U.S. Small Business Administration, providing it with program tools that offer new economic incentives to small businesses and lenders alike, all aimed at growing the economy through job creation, re-starting lending, and investing in small businesses.      SBA Recovery Information Center      Recovery Act Frequently Asked Questions for Small Business Owners   Accessing Federal Opportunities - Federal contracts are available at fbo.gov. Go to the "advanced search" section, and, at the bottom of that screen, check the "yes" box underneath "Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action." The search will list contracts funded by the stimulus Links to Buying and Selling Locally Pinellas County's Networking Directory - Pinellas County companies are encouraged to buy and sell products and services locally using Pinellas County's free Networking Directory.       Find a Vendor/Supplier      Add your company Backyard Economics and the Florida Backyard Card - Plant the seeds of economic recovery in your own backyard. Support the businesses that will reinvest your dollars in your community.      Register your company as a Backyard Card Vendor      Browse the latest Backyard Card deals Recovery and Stimulus Information and Tracking Sites PinellasCounty.org/Recovery - The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners is committed to its participation in receiving the funding for which the county is eligible. The navigational links on this webpage will continue to provide the public with updated information on funding applied for and awarded to the Pinellas County Government.   FLARecovery.com - Florida's website to provide accountability of the funds that are being allocated and awarded to the State for each Recovery Program. The site plans on tracking all recovery funds coming into Florida whether it is awarded to the State, local governments, not-for-profits organization or private businesses. Recovery.gov – The federal government created usaspending.gov in 2006 to make contracting and spending information available. In January, the Obama administration created recovery.gov to detail information about the stimulus plan. The site currently includes a brief timeline and background information about the plan. The site also promises to track stimulus spending (only at the federal level) when projects start. Federal contracts are available at fbo.gov. Go to the "advanced search" section, and, at the bottom of that screen, check the "yes" box underneath "Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action." The search will list contracts funded by the stimulus Business Websites Recommended by PCED Staff BusinessWeek - Small Biz Home Entrepreneurship.org (from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation) 10 Must-Click Websites from Entrepreneur Magazine Florida Small Business from Florida Trend