Tampa Bay Economic Development Council Delivers Economic Recovery Task Force Recommendations to City, County
May 29, 2020
The recommendations, developed with input from dozens of business and community leaders, address rehiring and training opportunities for dislocated workers and practical needs for short and longer-term business recovery
Tampa, Fla. – (May 29, 2020) – The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council (EDC) has submitted the recommendations of the Economic Recovery Task Force to Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa. The EDC was asked last month by City and County officials to identify and convene a diverse group of business, community, non-profit, academic and workforce leaders to generate recommendations for stimulating the recovery of our local economy, hiring dislocated workers, and assisting businesses affected by COVID-19-related circumstances.
The Task Force was divided into three Working Groups:
- Re‐employment, co-chaired by CareerSource Tampa Bay CEO John Flanagan and Hillsborough Community College President Dr. Ken Atwater. This team identified workers in industries hardest hit by COVID-19 and options for training dislocated workers for new opportunities in industries that are thriving and exhibiting strong hiring trends.
- Retention and Business Support, co-chaired by Tampa Bay EDC President & CEO Craig Richard, Tampa Bay Chamber President & CEO Bob Rohrlack, and Visit Tampa Bay President & CEO Santiago Corrada. This group was charged with assessing the impact of COVID-19 on key industry sectors, determining capital and other needs for the safe reopening of local businesses, and understanding factors that would help restore worker and consumer confidence.
- Recovery, co-chaired by Hillsborough County Assistant County Administrator Ron Barton and City of Tampa Administrator for Development and Economic Opportunity Carole Post, reviewed the initial recommendations made by the Task Force and refined them with the assistance of City and County economic development staff before presentation to elected officials.
“The Economic Recovery Task Force has done a valuable service for our entire community by presenting us with practical and informed recommendations that will help restart our economy,” said Lesley “Les” Miller, chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. “We thank the Tampa Bay EDC and all of the other organizations and individuals who dedicated their time and expertise to this important project.”
The Economic Recovery Task Force was not charged with addressing public health considerations, creating public policy or collecting, administering, or distributing any funds, loans, or other relief programs. Once the Task Force submitted its recommendations, City and County officials would then be responsible for creating policies and directives that would conform with federal, state and local public health agency guidance.
“Our priority is to help local businesses get back on their feet again safely,” said Mayor Jane Castor, City of Tampa. “These recommendations reaffirm what businesses have told us they need and they will assist in narrowing our focus as we do all in our power to lift our community economically.”
“The Tampa Bay EDC is honored to have assumed this important role as Task Force convener,” said Marie Chinnici‐Everitt, managing director and chief marketing officer of DTCC and chair of the Tampa Bay EDC. “Scores of residents and local businesses are hurting, and we need to come together to devise effective solutions to the many challenges our community is facing.”
“Our mission as economic developers is to support local businesses and assist them in getting the resources they need to operate in this crisis and its aftermath,” said Craig J. Richard, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. “We are grateful to all the co-chairs and task force working group members for bringing their best thinking to the table and devising solutions that will help our economy regain its momentum.”
About the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council
The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council is the lead designated economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. Established in 2009 as a partnership between the public sector and private corporate investors, the EDC works to develop and sustain a thriving local economy through the attraction, retention and expansion of high‐wage jobs and capital investment within targeted industry sectors, including Corporate Headquarters, Financial and Professional Services, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Defense and Security, Distribution and Logistics, and Manufacturing. The EDC exists because of the generous support of more than 100 corporations, Hillsborough County, and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. For more information, visit www.tampabayedc.com.
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