Author Archives: FRAstaff

An update for Pinellas County businesses on COVID-19

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for Pinellas businesses impacted by COVID-19 https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program-ppp The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) from the federally funded U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. You can…

Pay it Forward: Two local feeding programs to merge at Boynton site

The Community Caring Center of Palm Beach County merged April 1 with a larger nonprofit geared to feeding hungry people from Boynton Beach. The CCC was about to start a fundraising program last September to build a 5,000-square-foot commercial kitchen in east Boynton Beach. That’s when City Commissioner Ty Penserga contacted one of the center’s…

Delray Community Redevelopment Agency office to expand into relocated house this summer

Part of the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency’s mission is historic preservation. Soon, the agency will have staff working out of a 1930s home they helped save from the wrecking ball. Last year, the agency with help from the city and other entities, relocated the Wellbrock House to its property. Last month, the agency invited…

Corey Isle project adds 10 single-family workforce homes to Delray’s SW neighborhood

Delray Beach will be increasing its portfolio of workforce housing thanks to the Corey Isle project. Ten single-family workforce homes will soon be built in the Southwest Neighborhood at the Northwest corner of Southwest Seventh Avenue and Southwest Fourth Street. The homes will be either three or four bedrooms with two bathrooms and rear-loaded garages…

Pinellas Business News, April 2020: COVID-19 Resources & Info | Donations | SBA Virtual Office Hours and Webinars

COVID-19 Resources for Business We have compiled and are regularly updating a web page of information about COVID-19 for Pinellas County businesses. Please visit www.PCED.org/covid19to see the eligibility requirements for available loans, “Safer at Home” guidance and links to resources. Pinellas County’s “Safer at Home” Order is in effect as of 12:00 p.m. March 25, 2020. Full details for…

Coronavirus Florida: Lake Worth Beach food distribution set for Tuesday

There’s no shortage of folks in Lake Worth Beach who are struggling to put food on the table after losing their jobs as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The Lake Worth Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and Lake Worth Arts are easing that burden by sponsoring a drive-thru food distribution center on Tuesday between 9-11 a.m. Read the full…

How Congress’ Competing Coronavirus Bills Would Help State, Local Governments

While state and local government officials have argued they need billions from Congress to help stay afloat while spending to fight the spread of the coronavirus, the Senate’s $1.8 trillion economic stimulus package would pit them against businesses instead of providing dedicated funding. The latest version of the bill would provide $500 billion in economic…

In Letter to Trump, DeSantis Calls for Major Disaster Declaration for Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis sent a letter to President Donald Trump Monday formally requesting that Trump declare a Major Disaster as the state responds to the coronavirus outbreak. In his letter, DeSantis asked for the inclusion of several individual assistance programs in the declaration, including: Disaster Unemployment Assistance; Crisis Counseling; Community Disaster Loans. Disaster Supplemental Nutrition…

Florida mayor donating salary to pay his residents’ bills for trash pickup and energy

Grover Robinson, the mayor of Pensacola, Fla., will donate his annual salary of $100,000 toward paying for energy and trash collection for his residents amid the coronavirus outbreak. According to the Pensacola News Journal, the mayor announced he would donating his salary to Pensacola Energy as well as the town’s sanitation service, saying: “I’m not…

May 8th deadline to apply for emergency loan for small businesses impacted by COVID-19

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The bridge loan program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury from COVID-19. The application period opens tomorrow, March…

FRA WEBINAR: BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS BY CRAS

April 2, 2020  2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDST USING BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS AS AN IMPORTANT BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY TOOL What your business community needs right now is cash. They need direct, timely assistance.  While local governments are set up to meet the need of residents, many struggle with how to best meet the…

Department of Revenue orders two-week delay in property tax payment deadline

The Department of Revenue is giving Floridians more than two extra weeks to pay their property taxes as the state deals with the effects of the COVID-19 virus. According to an order from Executive Director Jim Zingale, “The date for citizens and businesses to pay property taxes in all Florida Counties is extended from March…