The Tropicana Field COVID-19 site has closed for the day, according to information from BayCare. The site will reopen Wednesday at 7 a.m. This is the second day in a row that the site closed within 90 minutes of opening, with cars lined up before dawn to get a spot. The site will reopen again Wednesday on a first come, first served basis. It can be accessed through Lot 2, on the west side of the stadium off 16th St. South. Cars will be directed to an entrance on 3rd Ave. South, which is west of 16th Street. It will operate Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. In subsequent weeks, the site will operate Monday through Friday from 8 to 11 a.m.
There’s still time for businesses and individuals to apply for Pinellas CARES financial assistance under the program’s first phase, but the deadline is rapidly approaching. Online applications for both programs will be accepted through Tuesday, June 30. The funds are designed to help those who’ve been financially impacted by COVID-19 and are part of the $170 million awarded from the federal CARES act. As of June 29, Pinellas County has received 4,917 completed applications and has issued 2,329 checks totaling $11.645 million to eligible businesses. The program provides one-time $5,000 grants to help offset the temporary loss of revenue and to help businesses retain and pay employees. Applications are available on the Pinellas County website. Individuals who’ve lost jobs or income related to COVID-19 are eligible to receive up to $4,000 in one-time assistance to help them cover rent, mortgage and utility bills. For the fastest response, applicants should text COVIDCARES to 898211 and be prepared to provide photos and other documentation to verify eligibility.
A fourth bus driver has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. The driver last reported to work Monday, June 22, and in the two weeks prior to that time, drove Route 4, Route 11 and Route 65, with Route 4 driven the most recently. PSTA does not believe any passengers came in contact with the driver, whom remained socially distant from all passengers. However, anyone who feels like they experience symptoms should seek medical advice. PSTA requires riders to wear protective face coverings while riding, and to use transit for essential travel only.
Pinellas County is now taking applications from developers who want to tap the county's $80 million fund dedicated to expanding affordable housing. The fund uses money from the fourth round of the Penny for Pinellas 1 percent sales tax approved by voters in 2017. The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners approved guidelines for using the Penny funding for housing late last year. The county is looking for a variety of applicants, including developers who specialize in affordable housing and those who traditionally build market-rate developments, as well as municipal and nonprofit partners, a news release said. For more information and to apply online, click here. Applications close at 5 p.m. on Aug. 31, with project review occurring in September and October. Selected projects will go to the County Commission for approval in November. Subsequent application cycles will open as long as funds are available, the county said.
This year's St. Anthony's Triathlon has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event had initially been scheduled for April 24-26. Those signed up for this year's race have the option of moving their registration to next year's event, which is scheduled for April 23-25. They can also request refunds by Aug. 1 or donate their registrations fees to the St. Anthony's Hospital Foundation. For more information, please visit SATriathlon.com.
Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and KnowBe4 in Clearwater were each named "Best Places to Work in IT" by InsiderPro and ComputerWorld. The publications say their list showcases organizations with innovative IT departments that offer great benefits and compensation as well as a stimulating work environment. Moffitt ranks No. 34 among large organizations on the list. KnowBe4 is No. 7 on the small company rankings. The full report is here.
Viera Bayside, an apartment complex in northeast St. Petersburg, has a new owner. BMF IV FL Viera Bayside, a limited liability company associated with Bridge Investment Group in Utah, bought Viera Bayside for $30.8 million in a deal that closed June 22, according to a deed filed with Pinellas County. The seller, a group led by FREG Bayside Associates LLC, bought the property in 2016 for $20.25 million, Pinellas County property records show. The two-building property, built in 1986, has 208 living units, according to property records. Bridge Investment Group is a privately-held real estate investment management firm with more than $20 billion in assets under management. The company's local portfolio also includes Carrollwood Station in Tampa. Requests for additional information from Bridge were pending return.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Gretchen Saunders and Ellen Ostman, both of Tampa, to the Board of Chiropractic Medicine. Saunders is the chief business officer with Hillsborough County Public Schools, a position she has held since 2005. She previously held various management roles with Hillsborough County Public Schools, beginning in 1996. Ostman has been a senior attorney with Givens Givens Sparks PLLC, a trial law firm, since 2000. Previously, she served as an attorney with the State Courts of Florida where she was a hearing officer from 1995 until 2000 and a traffic magistrate from 1995 until 2001. Both were named to four-year terms. Their appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
The St. Pete Catalyst has revised our interactive ZIP code map. The map shows the total numbers of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by ZIP code since the state started reporting that data in early April. The revised map offers a better representation of the outbreak in Pinellas County. Initially, when there were relatively few cases, our map visually displayed cases in a range of white, pink and red colors, with the ZIP codes with the most cases — more than 30 cases — displaying as the darkest shade of red. As case totals have increased, our map has been updated and it now shows a broader range of cases in white, pink and red. A handful of ZIP codes have fewer than 25 cases and are displayed in white, while the darkest red ZIP codes now have more than 150 cases. Check out the interactive ZIP code map here. The Catalyst updates the case totals each afternoon, after the daily report is available from the Florida Department of Health.
A newly designed Daily Spark will debut Monday. New features include the SparkPlug - a section dedicated to showcasing local social media posts, events with photos, a face lift for Zaps and a visual news post.
Eight additional deaths from COVID-19 were reported in Pinellas County Saturday morning. Pinellas County now has reported a total of 149 deaths and a total of 5,713 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since early March, including 614 newly confirmed cases reported on Saturday. Those new cases, combined with 430 new cases reported on Friday, total 1,044 new cases confirmed in just two days, including both Florida and non-Florida residents, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. Over the past 14 days, the percent of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 has averaged 10.4 percent, with results from 31,834 lab tests received since June 13.
AmSkills and Tampa Bay Works, along with 10 Tampa Bay manufacturers, are offering a free one-day manufacturing workshop Saturday (June 27) at TRU Simulation + Training at 1551 Gunn Highway in Odessa. During the interactive workshop, COVID-19 social distancing protocols will be observed and 20 participants will work individually and as a team to build a hands-on project. Of the 20 participants, the top 16 will be invited to attend a free two-week manufacturing training boot camp July 13-24. Those who complete the boot camp are guaranteed an interview with one or more of the participating employers. As many as 43 entry-level positions are available, paying up to $17 dollars an hour to start. People who are selected will have the opportunity to start working within two weeks.
