CLEARWATER, FL (Jan. 31, 2012) – Retired U.S. Army Veteran Ronald Gadsden wanted to start his own business and he found the right opportunity in a Postal Annex+ franchise, located in Clearwater, Florida.

As with many first-time entrepreneurs, “I went into this pretty blind and didn’t know about all the different aspects of running a business,” says Gadsden.

But a visit to Teresa Citron at Florida Bank, a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) partner, provided a link to a wealth of small business assistance.

Citron explains, “Instantly I thought to send him to the SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development.”

The SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) offers business training and counseling to new and existing small businesses in Pinellas. SBDC at PCED analysts initially conducted a needs assessment and provided Gadsden with information on the resources available to assist him on his entrepreneurial path. Through a one-on-one SBDC consultation with a certified business consultant, Gadsden received assistance with navigating his franchise agreement and site location, as well as information on potential funding options. With an initial investment of $85,000, it wasn’t long before the right location was found and Gadsden was ready to open for business.

Or was he?

“Opening this store has been a long time coming,” laughs Gadsden.

With his wife, Corliss, he began attending SBDC at PCED business classes that provide information on critical topics such as business plan development, tax and accounting procedures, web and social media marketing, and programs for veterans and minorities. Additional coaching from the SBDC staff helped Gadsden fine tune presentations and pitches he had to make for franchise sales representatives, and concierge space at the SBDC offices provided an appropriate setting for business meetings.

“Our goal is to provide the tools and counseling entrepreneurs need to be successful,” affirms SBDC at PCED Director Dr. Cynthia Johnson. “We’re here for our clients through every step of the start-up process, and we’re still here for them long after their doors open.”

The SBDC also helped Gadsden make connections to key players at the Clearwater and Safety Harbor Chambers of Commerce.

Gadsden comments, “These valuable contacts provided me with opportunities to promote my business at trade shows and gain sponsorship for the grand opening.”

Gadsden also received staffing assistance from WorkNet Pinellas in the form of job descriptions and labor statistics, and information on tools such as the On-the-Job Training (OJT) program, which provides a unique opportunity for individuals who already possess some job-related skills and knowledge to “learn as they earn.”

“As my business grows, I look forward to participating in the OJT program,” Gadsden explains. “The potential payroll savings could free-up dollars I could use to grow my business.”

Postal Annex has been open for several months and is an authorized shipper for FedEx, UPS, the United States Post Office, and DHL. Other services include personal mail box rentals, shredding, high-speed copying, notary public, passport services, and the sale of office and shipping supplies, greeting cards and stamps.

Gadsden could not be happier with the business’ success: “We’ve waited a long time to fill a need and be able to support the neighborhood, and it feels great!” he remarks.

About the assistance he’s received from the SBDC at Pinellas County, he stresses, “The center and its staff were very helpful, and I owe them for giving me my start.” He plans to continue expanding his business skills by attending additional SBDC training classes in the future.

Visit Postal Annex at http://www.postalannex.com/10013.

Learn more about the Small Business Development Center at Pinellas County Economic Development by visiting www.pced.org/sbdc, or call (727) 453-7200.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 31, 2012
Contact: Stacey Swank
Pinellas County Economic Development
(727) 464-7425 or sswank@pinellascounty.org

BRADENTON – Clare Controls Inc., which provides home automation systems for the custom home audio/video industry, has launched in Manatee County and plans to add 62 employees over the next four years, according to Sharon Hillstrom, president of the Manatee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

The Manatee Board of County Commissioners recently approved $248,000 in performance-based incentives, and the State of Florida also committed $248,000. The new jobs will pay on average twice the county average, or $66,896.  The county also will provide an estimated $7,797 in impact fee incentives to facilitate the company’s renovation of a 20,000-square-foot leased building at 7519 Pennsylvania Avenue in South Manatee County.

In addition, the company qualified for a Quick Response Training grant from the State of Florida in the amount of $93,000 for employee training.

Clare Controls (www.clarecontrols.com) provides systems that optimize the installation, management and use of sophisticated home automation solutions. Deployed from the “cloud” and run in customers’ homes on Mac platforms, these systems encompass lighting, security, multi-zone audio, video entertainment, energy, CCTV and other applications.  All are controlled by users through iPhone, iPad and browsers, using interfaces that they design and deploy themselves, without outside assistance.

The company also offers ClareVision, its IP video surveillance solution, as a freestanding package for use in residential and commercial applications.  ClareVision uses advanced analytics (computer algorithms originally developed for military analysis of live video) to turn raw video into actionable intelligence. This major advancement over traditional CCTV gives users the potential to proactively intervene in developing situations, before they escalate.

Clare President Brett Price owns a related business in Manatee County, Tempus Inc., which installs and services home automation systems. Formed in 2002 after Price sold Cheetah Technologies, Tempus has 50 employees in Manatee County.

“While Clare Controls is a startup, the owner’s track record for growing good jobs and the company’s technology and business model give us confidence in helping to accelerate Clare’s hiring in Manatee County,” said Hillstrom. The MEDC assisted the company in applying for county and stateincentives, and in permitting for facility improvements.

“Clare Controls is the type of company Florida seeks to spark further growth in its information technology sector, which is a target for economic development,” said Gray Swoope, president & CEO of Enterprise Florida Inc., the state’s lead economic development organization.  “Therefore, Clare’s selection of Florida and the new jobs involved are more than welcome news.  It’s a validation of this state’s ability to meet the needs of both progressive businesses and high-growth industries.

“A significant market opportunity exists in the home automation industry where Clare’s solution will simplify the user experience and use the power of the “Cloud” to achieve efficiency for the custom audio/video dealer and improve customer satisfaction,” Price said. “We chose to locate Clare in Manatee County because this has been a great community for our other businesses, with the right combination of a business-friendly environment and excellent quality of life.”

Price said the company is working on facility improvements for offices and engineering labs, and investing in computers and test equipment. He plans to hire the first 39 employees in 2012. Job candidates may review openings at www.clarecontrols.com.

“By judiciously applying performance-based incentives and providing efficient services to businesses that want to locate and expand in Manatee County, the Manatee Board of County Commissioners is accelerating job creation for local residents,” said Ed Hunzeker, Manatee County administrator. A list of Manatee County’s economic development incentives is available at www.mymanatee.org/econ_dev.

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL (Dec. 2, 2011) -  Pinellas County companies may register for the Republican National Convention’s (RNC) Small Business Network, by applying and meeting the qualifications ofPinellas County’s Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 30, 2011. This initiative is a part of the non-partisan 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee’s efforts to showcase Tampa Bay through tourism, hospitality and business opportunities.

In order to facilitate Pinellas SBE applications, qualified business counselors and notaries will be available on Wednesday, December 7, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. to assist with the application process. The event will be held at the offices of Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) at The EpiCenter, located at 13805 58th St. North, Suite 1-200, Clearwater, 33760.

Event:               Pinellas Small Business Enterprise Program Application Assistance
Date:                Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Time:                3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location:           Pinellas County Economic Development
The EpiCenter, 13805 58th Street N., Clearwater, FL 33760
Suite 1-200
Cost:                Free

Requirements:   http://www.pced.org/sbe

All local small businesses that are registered and approved through the City of Tampa, City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, or Hillsborough County will be eligible for the RNC’s Small Business Network.

Applications for the Pinellas SBE Program will be accepted at the Small Business Development Center at PCED until 4:00 p.m. on December 30. Local business people may make an appointment for assistance by phoning (727) 453-7200 or emailing cyjohnson@pinellascounty.org.

Click here to learn more about the Pinellas County SBE Program’s application process. Please note that not every company that fills out an application will meet the requirements to be accepted into the Pinellas SBE program, and acceptance into the RNC’s Small Business Network does not imply a promise of procurement.  Not all businesses in the program will be awarded business by the RNC or other groups affiliated with the convention.

Businesses that do not qualify for the RNC’s Small Business Network via an SBE program may apply to be included in the online version of the RNC’s business directory, by clicking here:http://2012tampa.com/small-business-network. However, these businesses will not be eligible to participate in the other aspects of the Small Business Network.

Questions about the Pinellas SBE Program? Please contact the Small Business Development Center at Pinellas County Economic Development at (727) 453-7200 or email cyjohnson@pinellascounty.org

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IRX Therapeutics, Inc., a leading research and development firm specializing in immune therapies designed to treat cancer and related diseases, recently announced its relocation to St. Petersburg, Florida. The growing company expects to create 283 jobs with an average salary of over 200% of the Pinellas County average wage over the next six years. “I am thrilled to welcome IRX to the Pinellas County business community,” shares Pinellas County Commission Chair Susan Latvala. “Projects like this illustrate our region’s attractiveness to the life sciences industry and underline the high-wage job creation associated with business attraction efforts.”

Read on…

View December Newsletter from Pinellas County

TAMPA, FLA. – Louise Ellrod joined the Tampa Bay office of Charles Perry Partners, Inc. (CPPI) as Director of Business Development. A 20-year veteran of the design and construction industry, Ellrod formerly served as Business Development Manager – Education, Health & Science, for RS&H, Tampa. She is a founding member of the Tampa Bay chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), and has served as a volunteer and school mentor for the Hillsborough Education Foundation, Pasco Education Foundation, and Charlotte Education Foundation. In addition, Ellrod is an active member of the Florida Educational Facilities Planners’ Association (FEFPA), The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and BioFlorida. The Tampa Bay office of Charles Perry Partners, Inc. is located at 14422 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33613, phone 813-979-9577.

Gainesville-based Charles Perry Partners, Inc. prominently ranks 17^th largest among “The Southeast’s Top Green Contractors” according to ENR Southeast magazine’s annual survey. The company, which has constructed more than 30 LEED certified projects and has more than 50 LEED Accredited Professionals on staff, ranks 6^th largest among Florida firms based on 2010 sustainable revenues totaling $81,450,000. Recognized as a powerhouse of innovation, sustainability, craftsmanship and expertise, the company ranks among Florida’s largest general contractors, construction managers and design-builders, reporting total 2010 revenues of $168 million.

CPPI specializes in educational, commercial, healthcare, governmental and institutional construction, with a client list that includes the University of South Florida, University of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of North Florida, numerous K-12 school districts, healthcare clients, and state and local governments. CPPI’s Principals include: Breck A. Weingart, Chairman; John V. Carlson, CEO; Domenic E. Scorpio, President; and Brian K. Leslie, Executive Vice President.

The company’s many outstanding projects also include: the new $95 million University High School in Volusia County; the $72 million Genetics & Cancer Research Center at the University of Florida; the $67 million North Florida Regional Medical Center expansion and renovations; The Village Retirement Community expansion; the $40 million University of Central Florida Physical Sciences Building, Phases I and II; the $38 million University of Florida Veterinary Education and Clinical Research Center (Small Animal Hospital); the $19 million University of South Florida Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions; the $11 million Florida Innovation Hub at the University of Florida; and countless others.

CPPI was prominently named one of Florida’s Best Companies To Work For in Florida Trend magazine’s annual survey published August 2011. The company’s headquarters is located in Gainesville, Florida, and its Tampa Bay office is located in Tampa. For more information, follow CPPI on Twitter @CPPI_News or visit www.cppi.com.

About Charles Perry Partners, Inc.

Charles Perry Partners, Inc. (CPPI) is one of Florida’s leading general contractors, construction managers and design-builders. Since 1968, the firm has established a tradition of excellence by providing an impressive array of services for public and private sector clients. CPPI’s services cover a wide range, including project planning and modeling, budget estimating and cost management, project scheduling and construction. The firm is a leader in sustainability and dedicated to the communities in which it serves. The company’s headquarters is located in Gainesville, Florida. Its Central Florida office is located in Oviedo, Florida, and its North Florida office is located in St. Augustine, Florida.  Its Tampa Bay office is located in Tampa, Florida, and its new South Florida office is located in Vero Beach, Florida. The company’s Georgia office is located near Athens, Georgia. For more information, please visit www.cppi.com or call 800-591-CPPI.

Five Florida cities (Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Tampa and Miami) have been named international innovation leaders.

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SARASOTA, Fla. (September 19, 2011) Sarasota Medical Products Inc., an early-stage company specializing in ostomy and advanced wound care products, has secured $3.56 million in private and public funding to begin manufacturing in October at a new Sarasota facility.

“We are excited to begin manufacturing medical products for several partners as we prepare to bring to market our patent-pending technologies for advanced wound care,” said Walter Leise, III, president and chief executive officer at Sarasota Medical Products (SMP). “Our strategic business plan and a favorable tax environment for private investors have helped us attract funding to begin generating revenue that will fuel future growth.”

Leise said his management team plans to grow the company to $200 million in revenue and 60 employees within five years through a combination of contract manufacturing, product development partnerships and company-driven research and development of new wound care solutions. SMP specializes in gentle and secure adhesive formulations that are suitable for long- or short-term skin wear. The company also is developing technologies to deliver medication and active oxygen to stimulate healing of chronic wounds.

SMP’s 16,000-square-foot headquarters in Sarasota includes a research laboratory and manufacturing facility that will be ISO-certified and FDA-compliant. Initially, SMP will manufacture bandage adhesives, wound care dressings, and ostomy coupling devices that are more comfortable for patients. Rather than employing its own sales force, SMP will use a network of medical product distributors, allowing the company to operate with lower overhead to make its products more cost-competitive.

“We have received $3.9 million in purchase orders from a partner to manufacture ostomy products for global distribution,” Leise said. “This market segment alone represents an untouched niche worth $65 million in SMP revenue over the next five years. We have also agreed to develop custom formulations, provide rolled adhesive, and produce components for several new partners.”

In addition to manufacturing high quality, industry-standard adhesives, SMP has developed several new adhesives that provide a natural healing environment and that don’t hurt patients when removed. SMP also has entered into an agreement with Oxygen Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: OXBT) to develop products that deliver oxygen to stimulate healing of chronic wounds.

According to research by Global Data, in 2008, the ostomy market was worth $1.3 billion, growing by 1‐2% each year, and the wound care market was worth $3.6 billion, growing by 5-8% per year. This market potential and a capital gains tax exclusion for qualified investments in U.S. businesses is helping to attract private investors, Leise said. The exclusion applies to certain investments made by the end of 2011.

Since the company’s founding in 2010, Leise and his team have secured $1.6 million in private equity, an SBA-backed loan of $1.6 million through Synovus Bank, and a commitment of $360,000 in economic development incentives through Sarasota County Government. The company is seeking additional investment to accelerate growth, Leise said.

SMP’s management team includes individuals who have designed, developed, manufactured, and sold brand label wound care, incontinence and ostomy products offered by current market leaders such as Hollister and ConvaTec. For more information, visit the company’s website:www.sarasotamedical.com.

About Sarasota Medical Products Inc.

Sarasota Medical Products Inc. (SMP) is an early-stage company that develops and manufactures ostomy and advanced wound care products. SMP is a private-label manufacturer of medical devices and has a growing portfolio of proprietary technology to drive next-generation product development in the wound, ostomy and incontinence market segments. SMP specializes in gentle and secure adhesive formulations that are suitable for long- or short-term skin wear, and is a leader in developing technologies to deliver medication and active oxygen to chronic wounds. As a contract manufacturer and technology development partner, SMP offers creative, collaborative and custom device design services for medical products. Information: www.sarasotamedical.com.

 

# # #

Contact:

Rich Lovell, VP Sales and Marketing, Sarasota Medical Products Inc.

941.377.1451, ext. 223

Rich.Lovell@sarasotamedical.com

Growth in Florida medical product manufacturing industry helps to fuel Octex expansion

SARASOTA, Fla. (July 18, 2011) Octex LLC will nearly double its footprint in Sarasota County and add 80 jobs over five years as the company expands to meet demand for its custom plastic injection molding services, according to CEO James Westman. Sarasota County Government recently approved a performance-based incentive grant of $200,000 to facilitate the company’s expansion.

Founded in Sarasota County in 1990, Octex (www.octexcorp.com) serves customers in the consumer products, medical, aerospace and industrial sectors. The company occupies 33,000 square feet on Sarasota Center Boulevard and will add 26,000 square feet at the same location. Octex currently has 61 employees and plans to add positions in administration and manufacturing.

“Sarasota County has a good pool of employees and is a nice place to live,” Westman said. “Florida has a strong and growing medical product manufacturing industry. Addressing that demand is helping to fuel our expansion.”

“Octex is an example of a homegrown Sarasota County business that has survived and thrived by adapting to changing economic conditions and anticipating market demand,” said Mark Huey, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County (EDC). “The company’s ability to serve the growing needs of medical product manufacturers and other fast-growing industries bodes well for growth potential and future employment opportunities at Octex.”

EDC staff consulted with the company on the expansion, advising Octex of programs that may apply to the project and expedite job creation, Huey said. Examples include Industrial Revenue Bonds, Sarasota County’s ad valorem tax exemption program, impact fee mitigation, the county’s Economic Development Incentive Fund and quick-response permitting.

“Octex is a great example of how a local company can thrive by finding a market niche and expanding with the right support from Sarasota County,” said Nora Patterson, Sarasota County Commission chair. “The company’s use of a high-precision injection molding process has a broad appeal to a wide range of applications, from the medical field to custom products, and makes Octex a good candidate for performance-based incentives.”

The EDC of Sarasota County is the private, not-for-profit corporation leading the community’s economic development strategy to add high-wage jobs and diversify the local economy. The EDC provides business assistance to companies in Sarasota County and helps forge solutions to community challenges that affect quality of life. The EDC works in partnership with chambers of commerce, local governments and other organizations throughout the county and the region. For more information, visit www.edcsarasotacounty.com.

New facility is medical products company’s fourth expansion in Sarasota County since 1991

SARASOTA, Fla. (July 7, 2011) In its fourth expansion in Sarasota County since 1991, Aso LLC will locate its Millenium Coating LLC subsidiary in Sarasota County, a move that will add 50 new jobs over five years, according to Charles Hart, Aso vice president of sales and marketing. Sarasota County Government recently approved a performance-based incentive grant of $125,000 to facilitate the company’s expansion.

Aso is a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of adhesive bandages and other wound care products to major retailers and to medical and industrial product distributors. Millennium Coating will provide medical adhesive tape products to Aso LLC as part of an initiative to vertically integrate Aso’s supply chain to improve customer service, Hart said. The Milennium Coating facility will be located in a new 23,500-square-foot manufacturing facility adjacent to Aso’s existing, 150,000-square-foot facility.

“Aso has been successfully operating in Sarasota County for the past 20 years and owns 38 acres in the Sarasota International Trade Center business park,” Hart said. “This expansion project will cost nearly $7 million, with approximately $3.6 million earmarked for specialized coating equipment.”

Hart said the new jobs would be in management and supervisory positions, as well as skilled machine operators, material handlers and production assistants. Integrating the Milennium Coating operation with the existing manufacturing process will help the company become more competitive and expand its market, leading to more jobs in Aso’s core bandage-making business, as well. Aso currently has 225 employees in Sarasota County.

“The addition of the Milennium Coating facility at Aso’s Sarasota County location demonstrates the company’s commitment to growing its business here,” said Mark Huey, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County (EDC). “Aso’s expansion, along with other job-creation projects that are in the works, are encouraging signs of economic recovery.”

“The steady expansion of Aso LLC in Sarasota County over the last 20 years helps establish this area in the medical products field and builds and diversifies our workforce,” said Nora Patterson, Sarasota County Commission chair. “Aso’s growth record shows how companies can come here and thrive.”

EDC staff consulted with the company on the expansion, advising Aso of programs that may apply to the project and expedite job creation, Huey said. Examples include Sarasota County’s ad valorem tax exemption program, impact fee mitigation, the county’s Economic Development Incentive Fund and quick-response permitting.

“The EDC has been instrumental in coordinating and communicating with Sarasota County Government to make this project possible,” Hart said.

The EDC of Sarasota County is the private, not-for-profit corporation leading the community’s economic development strategy to add high-wage jobs and diversify the local economy. The EDC provides business assistance to companies in Sarasota County and helps forge solutions to community challenges that affect quality of life. The EDC works in partnership with chambers of commerce, local governments and other organizations throughout the county and the region. For more information, visit www.edcsarasotacounty.com.

Contact:
Donna Carden, Corporate Relations Director, Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County
(941) 309-1200 ext. 106  dcarden@edcsarasotacounty.com