Government acting alone cannot solve the COVID-19 pandemic. Cities have amazingly smart, creative, resourceful, kind, and caring residents who are willing and able to help. Local governments must encourage and challenge our residents to unleash their many talents to help their community cope in these difficult times. We will only get through this crisis when…
The Clearwater Planning and Development Department and other city departments are staffed and operating, but the public may not go beyond the lobbies of those buildings. But myclearwater.com — the website where residents can pay fines, apply for and pay for various licenses and permits including business tax receipt, tree removal licenses, and view city records,…
Local officials say they’re already preparing for small business recovery after shutdowns to slow the coronavirus outbreak. Economic development and elected officials shared plans to help repair the local economy during a news conference Thursday morning. In addition to other efforts, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson announced the city would be dedicating an economic development staff…
City officials expect to release an aid package next week that could include direct payments to small Jacksonville businesses struggling from the impact of COVID-19. Mayor Lenny Curry said March 26 in a virtual news conference that there’s “a very high possibility” the plan will include direct financial assistance. Curry did not provide details or the…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
