Editor's Picks: Things to Know, Including Help in Exporting and the Marketing Power of the Kumquat
Tampa Bay Business Journal, Alexis Muellner - Editor, Tampa Bay Business Journal | Feb 23, 2022, 6:52 am EST
First, the talker:
Pasco's brand: A county commission resolution made it official last week: Kumquat Pie is now the official pie of Pasco County. The designation is the brainchild of the county's destination marketers. "When people think of Pasco, we want them to also think of the kumquat," Florida's Sports Coast Tourism Director Adam Thomas said in a release. "This resolution is a great way to do that." The pie, made from the tart tiny citrus you eat whole, often sells out at the annual Kumquat Festival in Dade City. Kumquats first arrived in Pasco in the late 1800s, helping to develop the town of St. Joseph.
Next, the big number: 16%
Businesses that export give their workers 16% higher wages, the Department of Commerce said.
And now, five things that happened while saw more invites to in-person meetings:
Export help: The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses have launched a new partnership to facilitate export-led growth for small businesses. The initiative will equip small business owners with resources to help them reach international markets and sell their products and services, a release said. Search "New Year, New Growth, New Global Sales" to find more on this three-part educational series.
Storm ready: Pinellas County Emergency Management has developed the 2022 Pledge to Plan Hurricane Preparedness Series of webinars. PCEM executives and community partners will discuss preparation, evacuation procedures, shelter options, special needs, insurance considerations and resources available to communities and businesses within Pinellas County. The webinars begin on Feb. 23 and are open to all.
Labor trends: Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell for the third straight week, as the Omicron wave has started to fade, says PNC Chief Economist Gus Faucher in a commentary. Initial UI claims increased from around 200,000 per week in late 2021 to a peak of 290,000 mid-January as the omicron variant hit labor markets. Continued claims are near their lowest level in decades, he said.
West River: ULI Tampa Bay will host developers from the Related Group, the Tampa Housing Authority, and Norstar Development to discuss new paradigms in building equitable, multigenerational communities and strategies for increasing the supply of quality affordable and workforce housing units locally. Project spotlights include Tampa's West River redevelopment and Rome Yard, and St. Petersburg's Jordan Park redevelopment. The breakfast and walking tour are scheduled for Feb. 24 at 8 a.m.
Board boost: Tampa-based Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, one of the largest organizations in one-to-one youth mentoring in the nation, has named Floyd Ferjuste, VP of retail sales, south division, PepsiCo Beverages North America, and Ryan Detert, CEO of Influential, as its newest board members. These appointments will join current BBBSA Board members, including executives from Fortune 500 companies such as Comcast NBCUniversal and Centene Corp., a release said.
