SESCO Cement begins full operations at Port Tampa Bay
TAMPA – SESCO Cement has begun full commercial operations at its Port Tampa Bay import terminal after receiving its first two ships carrying bulk gray cement.
Each vessel is making a partial delivery at the Port Redwing terminal in Gibsonton before continuing to SESCO’s terminal in Houston. The route connects the company’s Florida and Texas operations.
The Tampa facility uses a custom ship unloader and conveyor system to move cement directly from vessels into storage silos. An automated system then loads the cement onto trucks for distribution to ready-mix producers and other customers.
SESCO opened the terminal with a ribbon-cutting in June. The company says the facility is positioned to serve Florida construction markets through maritime, highway and rail connections.
SESCO expects the facility to become Florida’s largest cement terminal.
GTE Financial opens New Port Richey location
NEW PORT RICHEY – GTE Financial celebrated the grand opening of its new Community Financial Center on Oct. 3 at 9746 Little Road.
The location replaces GTE Financial’s former Hudson center and offers banking, lending, financial planning and education services.
“Pasco County continues to grow, and we want to make sure our physical locations are growing alongside the communities we serve,” said Channing D. Thornton, managing director of retail member sales. “Relocating to New Port Richey allows us to better serve existing members while creating greater access for individuals, families and businesses throughout the area.”
Manager Matthew DeSalvo leads the center.
“Whether someone is buying their first home, starting a business, working toward a savings goal or simply looking for financial guidance, we want them to know they have a local team they can turn to,” Thornton said.
SBA opens nominations for 2027 small business awards
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened nominations for its 2027 National Small Business Week Awards.
Small business owners may nominate themselves or be nominated by others at sba.gov/nsbw. Nominations are due by 3 p.m. Dec. 7. National Small Business Week will be held May 2-8, 2027.
Each state will select a Small Business Person of the Year. Those recipients will compete for the national award.
National categories also include Small Business Manufacturer of the Year, Small Business Exporter of the Year, Blue-Collar Small Business of the Year, Rural Small Business of the Year, Veteran Small Business of the Year and the Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery.
Florida approves renters insurance rate decrease
TALLAHASSEE – Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky has approved an average 12.8% rate decrease for renters insurance policies issued by American Modern Home Insurance Company.
The decrease applies to about 121,900 HO-4 policies and takes effect Oct. 11 for new policies and renewals.
Policyholders in more than 30 counties are expected to receive average decreases ranging from 13.1% to 13.9%. HO-4 policies generally cover renters’ personal belongings against specified losses and provide personal liability coverage. They do not insure the building itself.
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has approved rate decreases for four homeowners insurance companies.
On the web: floir.gov
Quick Hits
- Alexander Ugarte launched a fundraising campaign on gofundme.com to help small business owner Jonathan Marte replace landscaping equipment that was reportedly stolen while he was working at a job site. The Lutz-based campaign had raised $515 of the $1,200 needed as of Oct. 4. Learn more at gofundme.com/f/replace-jonathan-martes-stolen-equipment.
- The Internal Revenue Service has launched a new IRS mobile app, replacing IRS2Go and expanding mobile access to IRS tools and account services. Taxpayers can also visit the IRS App on IRS.gov for verified links and additional information.
- Tampa Bay public broadcaster WUSF won 20 journalism excellence awards, including 10 first-place honors in The Sunshine State Awards, hosted by the Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
