Realtor breakfast
Union Park Charter Academy, 32775 Oldwoods Ave., in Wesley Chapel, is hosting a Realtor breakfast on Feb. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Learn about Union Park Academy and take a tour of the school. Masks will be required and temperatures will be taken upon entry. Breakfast and refreshments will be provided. For questions, call 813-358-7306, ext. 1008. To register, email .
PPP loan program reopened
The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, has reopened the Paycheck Protection Loan Program. Lender forms, guidance and resources are available at SBA.gov/ppp.
If you need additional assistance, you may want to consult with a local business organization — such as your chamber of commerce, your local economic development council or local chapter of SCORE — to point you toward someone who can help you navigate through the system.
Hotels want to play role in vaccine rollout
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is letting the nation’s leadership know that hotels would be a good choice for vaccine administration sites across the country.
In a news release, the association touts many attributes that hotels have to offer. They include:
- Vast geographic reach: Hotel properties are located in cities, suburbs and rural communities.
- Available capacity, 24/7 operations: Hotels have private rooms, meeting rooms, conference and ballrooms, as well as outside areas; hotels are equipped for 24-hour operations to allow for round-the-clock vaccination administration.
- Comprehensive cleanliness protocols.
- Infrastructure: Ample parking, parking that can be used for drive-thru sites; access to transportation networks, refrigeration capabilities
Hillsborough improving services
Hillsborough County has announced improvements in the way it does business for building permits, inspections and contractor licensing.
In changes that began on Jan. 19, the county launched its new online portal, HCFLGov.net/HillsGovHub, which is aimed at providing streamlined services that are faster and customer-friendly, according to a county news release. The portal provides 24/7 access to apply and pay for commercial and residential building permits online, schedule inspections, upload contractor licensing/professional certification information, apply for tree removal permits, and view various records. Anyone can use the portal.
Besides streamlining processes for customers, the digital system will enable staff to perform multiple reviews concurrently, and provide real-time access to permit and inspection information in the field, allowing for faster turnaround time.
If you’d like an orientation on how to use the portal, sign up to attend a webinar. The next one is scheduled on Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. To register, go to HCFLGov.net/HillsGovHub.
You can also get updates to additional services that will be available later. Go to the portal to sign up to receive emails on the updates.
Upcoming SCORE webinars
- Health insurance for small business, Feb. 9, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- How to start a business, develop a plan, Feb. 10, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Register at PascoHernando.score.org. Business mentors also are available through the organization.
Business panel discussions
Hillsborough County’s Entrepreneur Collaborative Center (ECC) is turning its free virtual small business panel discussions into a monthly staple, according to a county news release.
The Local Stories Live series lets participants connect with local successful small business owners for lively discussions on what it takes to survive and thrive as a small business.
The panels will be held on the second Friday of each month at 9 a.m. The 30-minute discussions will each feature three different local business leaders and will be followed by a brief question-and-answer period. Established business owners, entrepreneurs and those interested in the local business community are invited to participate.
Learn more about this and other available small business services and resources at HCFLGov.net/ECC.
Recent ribbon cuttings
The North Tampa Bay Chamber recently hosted these ribbon-cuttings:
- Touch Nails, second location, Jan. 14
- Community Victory Family Services, on Jan. 18
- iTrip Vacations Lakes of Central Florida, on Jan. 21
Rent debt is persistent threat
Apartment List’s latest survey shows that 28% began the year with unpaid rent bills from previous months, which were amassed while the economy buckled during the coronavirus pandemic. When federal- and local-level eviction moratoriums expire, rent debt may displace already-vulnerable renters from their homes, a news release from Apartment List says.
And, like many other consequences of the pandemic, rent debt is concentrated among minority renters, the report shows.
Here are some highlights from the new report:
- 53% of Black renters are coming into the new year with unpaid housing bills
- 38% of Hispanic renters have rent debt
- 27% of Asian renters have rent debt
- 21% of white renters have rent debt
These debts are causing concerns about near-term evictions within minority groups, according to the survey.
Over 30% of Black renters are “very” or “extremely” concerned about being evicted, more than double the rate of concern among white renters.
