Business Digest

Tampa ranked No. 10 in WalletHub’s recently released study of the Best Large Cities to Start a Business.

WalletHub compared 100 U.S. cities across 21 key indicators of startup viability. The data set ranges from the five-year business-survival rate to COVID-19 cases to office-space affordability

To view the full report, visit WalletHub.com/edu/best-cities-to-start-a-business/2281.

The Laker/Lutz News to be honored
The Laker/Lutz News has been notified that it will receive honors in 21 categories during the Florida Press Association’s 2021 Weekly Newspaper Contest.

The Laker/Lutz News has received a total of 27 awards, which will be bestowed during a July 16 luncheon in Sarasota. Staff members Matt Mistretta, Kevin Weiss and B.C. Manion will receive recognition, along with newspaper contributors Fred Bellet, Christine Holtzman, Joey Johnston, Doug Sanders and Kathy Steele.

Lillian Cucuzza and Steve Vinik also are being honored, in a category for reader-generated photographs.

The Laker/Lutz News, locally owned and published by Diane Kortus, serves the communities of Odessa, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio and St. Leo.

Jersey Mike’s supports charities
Jersey Mike’s Subs raised $15 million nationwide to support local charities during is 11th  annual Month-of-Giving campaign. In the Tampa/Saint Petersburg area, its fundraising efforts raised $253,000 for the charity High Risk Hope.

Jersey Mike’s locations nationwide accepted donations throughout the month, building to March 31, Day of Giving, when more than 1,900 restaurants donated 100% of sales, not just profits, to local charities, according to a news release.

This year’s fundraising total is double the amount raised in 2019, when the company donated $7.3 million to local charities.

Last year’s Day of Giving celebrations were canceled because of the pandemic.

Since Month of Giving began in 2011, Jersey Mike’s has raised more than $47 million for local charities, according to the news release.

Tire Kingdom donates tires
Tire Kingdom, which is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, recently donated a set of tires for a vehicle owned by a Tampa nonprofit organization called Project 100, according to a news release.

The Tire Kingdom team at Store 217, at 1005 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, was honored to “play a role and contribute to this worthwhile cause,” Jay Garet, the store manager, said in the release.

Project 100 organizes local events to support the homeless or those in need.

State appointment
Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles  has been named to the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation Executive Council by Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, according to a news release.

The 10-member board, created by the Legislature, sets business policy and makes decisions regarding clerks’ court-related budget matters.

Alvarez-Sowles’ term, which lasts for two years, began April 11.

Team Up: Building A Strong Economy Together
The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., and Experience Florida’s Sports Coast are co-hosting an event aimed at bringing together representatives of Pasco’s diverse economy, including corporate businesses, entrepreneurs, hoteliers, attraction partners and restauranteurs.

The event, called Team Up: Building A Strong Economy Together, is planned for May 6 at 5 p.m., at AdventHealth Center Ice.

The event includes networking, cocktails, a figure skating showcase, a plated dinner, tourism and economic development presentations, recognition and award celebrations. There also will be a keynote address by Mike Rayburn, who went from playing guitar for seven people in a bar in Virginia to playing in Carnegie Hall.

For more information, call 813-926-0827, or visit PascoEDC.com.

Grand openings/ribbon-cuttings

• Molly’s Hatchet had its grand opening and ribbon-cutting on April 3, at 38444 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.
• Fresh Kitchen New Tampa had its grand opening and ribbon-cutting on March 30, at 8648 Hunter’s Village Road in New Tampa.
• First Watch New Tampa had its official egg-cracking ceremony on April 5 to celebrate its new location at 8646 Hunter’s Village Road in New Tampa.

New offerings at Wiregrass
Some new stores have joined the lineup at The Shops at Wiregrass, at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The new shops include Sephora, Optimal Wellness, Perfume Palace and Gold Mine Jewelers.

The mall also expects to add Token Ramen, Clean Juice and Coffee Latitudes later this year.

For more information, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com.

Free business workshop
April 20, from noon to 1 p.m.: Learn about the Business Model Canvas, which provides an easier way to develop a business plan. This webinar teaches participants how to visualize in a single page all the building blocks of your business plan, and still follow a detailed and rigorous process. This webinar is being presented by Jose Melgar, a Pasco-Hernando SCORE member.

To register or find out about other resources available through Pasco-Hernando SCORE, visit PascoHernando.score.org.

GrowPasco breakout sessions
Kevin Harrington, a Shark Tank original, is the keynote speaker at GrowPasco, a daylong event offering 12 breakout sessions for entrepreneurs and executives. The registration fee for the event is $40 per person, with a $20 per person rate for Pasco businesses and residents. The event will be on May 8, at Hyatt Place Tampa Wesley Chapel, at 26000 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz. To register, go to PascoEDC.com.

East Pasco Networking Group
Upcoming speakers for the East Pasco Networking Group include Zephyrhills City Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson and Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe, who will speak at the March 9 meeting, and Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, who will speak on March 23. The group meets at 7:30 a.m., at IHOP, at 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. For more information, call Nils Lenz at 813-782-9491 or Vicky Jones at 813-431-1149.

Business & Community Expo
Network with 40 Pasco County businesses and community organizations at the first annual Pasco Business & Community Expo at The Concourse on March 20 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Concourse is at 11919 Alric Pottberg Road in Shady Hills. Admission is $5 and includes a grand raffle entry ticket. Email for more information.

Women-owned businesses
How resilient are women entrepreneurs feeling during COVID-19?

A study by FreshBooks reveals that women entrepreneurs are being harder hit by the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19.

Here are some of the key findings of the study:

• On average, women-owned businesses are taking nearly three times longer to recover from the financial setbacks brought on by COVID-19 compared to businesses owned by men.
• Self-employed women in industries that rebounded quickly are still under-indexing and recovering much slower than their male counterparts (for example, the construction industry).
• Nearly 60% of women say it will take them longer than six months to recover their business to previous COVID levels, compared to 47% of men.
• Industries with predominantly women-owned businesses (e.g., education, social assistance, etc.), were among the hardest hit industries during social distancing regulations.
• Women are more likely to be caring for children or the elderly during the pandemic.

The Business Resiliency During COVID-19 study combines survey data from 2,200 FreshBooks U.S. customers with business data from over 10,000 small businesses in the United States. Survey responses were collected online between July and September 2020. The FreshBooks data science team examined a range of metrics (e.g., revenue, expenditures, invoice amounts) to infer the impact(s) of COVID-19 on overall business performance in aggregate, as well as by gender and industry.

FreshBooks is the No. 2 small business accounting software in America, with paying customers in 100+ countries.

Grocery spending
A new data study found that while most Americans are spending more on groceries than ever before, Florida saw no change in grocery spending.

TOP Data analyzed spending at grocery stores across Florida and found that the average annual grocery bill was the same in 2020, with the average person spending $4,580.

The study also revealed that the biggest increase in spending has been on spirits, which was 33% higher in 2020 than in 2019.

Spending on meat jumped by 16%, with the meat alternatives subcategory seeing a 34% spike. The biggest subcategory increase was storage, which saw a huge 605% increase.

Key Findings from TOP Data’s study:

• There was a 9.4% increase in annual grocery spend in 2020.
• 33 states have increased their grocery bill during the pandemic.
• The average American spent $4,442 on groceries in 2020.
• People of Florida spent the same amount on grocery in 2020 compared to 2019.

TOP Data analyzed weekly spending data of 900,000 Americans. This spending was mapped to 55 grocery retailers, including Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Safeway, Kroger, Albertsons, Wegmans and Publix Super Markets, and others.

The data was cross-checked with publicly available information from each organization, and any correction provided was incorporated into the report.

Viewing this information in concert, TOP determined the weekly purchases at each merchant over the last 15 months by state.

16 million meals, and counting
The Florida Department of Elder Affairs distributed more than 16 million home-delivered meals last year following the onset of COVID-19. That number represents an increased distribution of over 200% for nearly five months, compared to the number of meals served during periods of non-emergency, according to a news release from the department.

As the department and the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) increased the number of home-delivered meals, the Aging Network simultaneously partnered with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to launch Feeding Older Floridians Restaurant Meal Initiative that contributed over 3.5 million meals to Florida seniors during the same time period.

Now, the department is reinforcing the successful home-delivered meal programs. An additional $12.7 million in federal funding has been distributed to the 11 AAAs throughout the state, to address the needs of older Floridians who remain affected by COVID-19.

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our restaurants have stepped up to help fill the critical need for senior meals, and the extension of this program will continue to allow seniors to have increased access to hot, nutritious meals from the safety of their home while simultaneously helping to support Florida’s restaurants,” Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, said in the release.

The additional funding will allow extension of various meal delivery projects including the Feeding Older Floridians Restaurant Meal Initiative, drive-through meals, and grab-and-go meals for older adults who remain homebound.

Seven productivity hacks to help small businesses
The Better Business Bureau has published a list of seven tips aimed at helping small businesses succeed. In a nutshell, here are the tips:

• Know when to delegate. You are just one person; you can’t do everything.
• Set goals and track progress. Make lists of tasks you need to complete and keep track of how you are doing. Having a plan for each day and each week reduces the amount of time you waste.
• Work in time blocks. After setting your goals for the day, schedule a time for each task. For instance, if you schedule an hour to answer emails, stop doing that task after an hour and move on to the next thing on your list. Don’t forget to schedule in some 10-minute breaks.
• Avoid multi-tasking. Very few people can do more than one task at a time (Research says just 2.5%). Do one task at a time, and give it your full attention.
• Have short, impactful meetings. Every meeting should have a clear agenda.
• Hire the right people. It’s easier to delegate when you have the right people on the job. When choosing new team members, take your time to make sure the candidate is a good fit.
• Automate processes. Take a good look at your company. Automate, when possible.

For more information, visit BBB.org/smallbusiness.

Most competitive jobs in Florida: Retail
CareerCloud recently released a study that shows that in Florida the No. 1 most common and competitive job is a retail salesperson. That job represents 1,594 jobs for every 100,000 people in the state.

The report is based on the recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Census Bureau, according to a news release from CareerCloud.

Some key findings:

• The five most competitive jobs in America are: Retail salesperson (1,379 workers per 100,000 people), food preparation and serving (1,132), cashiers (1,115), office clerks (965), registered nurses (935).
• Retail salesperson is among the top three most competitive jobs in 48 states, followed by cashier (26 states), and food prep and service worker (16 states)
• The five fastest-growing jobs through 2028 are: Solar installers (expected to increase by 45%); wind turbine technicians (expected to increase by 39%); home health aides (expected to increase by 21%), person care aides (expected to increase by 21%); and, occupational therapists (expected to increase by 18%).

CareerCloud also offers these tips for job seekers:

• Update Resume to Beat the Bots: Nearly 100% of Fortune 500 companies use a digital ATS platform to weed out resumes before a human sees them. To beat the bots, add keywords from the job description into your resume.
• Remember: Appearance Matters. Up Your Zoom game. Choose a clean background in your home for Zoom interviews, and make sure you dressed and groomed for success, as if it was an in-person interview.
• Be Flexible and Focus on Transferrable Skills: As the economy rebounds, your old job may be gone, or you may choose an industry with less competition. Be sure to highlight your transferrable skills– such as office management or mentoring of new hires.
  For more information from the report, go to CareerCloud.

Borrowing from the bank of Mom & Dad
Nearly one in four young Floridians have loans from their parents since the pandemic, according to a survey by USAWillGuru.com.

Seventy-eight percent of respondents say there is no interest on loans from their parents, and one in five parents admit they are not confident they will be repaid.

The survey included 4,500 people between the ages of 20 and 29.

As Gen Z moves into adulthood and millennials advance into middle age, an overwhelming trend has emerged, revealing that 23% of young Floridians have relied on parents to help pay the bills since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

The categories most parents are requested to help pay for are: Rent: 52%; Car: 22%; Groceries: 15%; and, Childcare: 11%.

For those borrowing from the Bank of Mom & Dad, 78% say there is no interest on the loans, including 5% who had not even discussed repayment terms.

For those moving back in with their parents, 72% said they are doing so, rent-free.

But, young people aren’t the only ones being affected by the pandemic, as 52% of parents who have given adult children money since the start of the pandemic, admit that they haven’t been able to provide the full amount requested, according to the survey.

Most said they didn’t have the funds available, but one in five said they were not confident their children would pay them back.

Initiative aims to help emerging leaders
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the launch of the 2021 Emerging Leaders initiative for executives of small businesses poised for growth in underserved markets, according to a news release.

Local area recruitment for the 2021 training cycle is currently underway at designated SBA District Offices. Interested small business owners can learn more regarding eligibility, how to apply, class schedules and locations at SBA.gov/emergingleaders, or by contacting their local SBA District Office.

Recent ribbon-cuttings
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce has announced a number of recent ribbon-cuttings:

• Geico Wesley Chapel will have a grand opening on Feb. 11 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 1227 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.
• Kiddie Academy of Wiregrass Ranch, had a ribbon-cutting on Feb. 9, at 2900 Hueland Pond Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.
• HD Real Estate Company had an open house on Feb. 3, at the North Tampa Bay Chamber Office, 1868 Highlands Oaks Blvd., in Lutz.
• Rest Easy Realty hosted a ribbon-cutting and grand opening on Jan. 27, at 32347 State Road 52, Suite B, in San Antonio.

New dentist coming to Odessa
Eduard Pocola, DDS soon will offer dental services to the community of Odessa at Preserve Dental Care, a full-service, family dental practice set to open on March 5.

Services will range from routine cleanings and simple fillings to more in-depth restorative and cosmetic services, according to a news release.

Preserve Dental Care is located at 16030 Preserve Marketplace Blvd., in Odessa. The office is now accepting new patients. Appointments can be made by calling 813-591-3800 or by visiting PreserveDentalCare.com.

Hooters supports Moffitt Cancer Center
Hooters Management Corporation virtually presented a check for $52,905 to Moffitt Cancer Center, in a Zoom event. The donation represented the proceeds from the 2019 “Give a Hoot” program, and supports a grant awarded through the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

The donation will help support the cutting-edge work Moffitt researchers and physicians are doing to ensure patients are receiving the very best cancer care today and leading to new breakthroughs tomorrow, according to a news release.

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.