Temporary furloughs have turned into permanent layoffs for 948 workers at Busch Gardens Tampa. Busch Gardens Tampa President Stewart Clark cited the "significant and sustained impact" of the Covid-19 pandemic for the job action, in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice sent to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Parent company SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment closed all its parks on March 16 and temporarily furloughed the vast majority of its workforce on April 1. Florida parks reopened with a reduced operating schedule and guest capacity in June, but attendance has been impacted by self-imposed limitations, consumer concerns regarding Covid and other factors, Clark said. "It is difficult to predict when business will return to pre-Covid-19 levels," Clark said. The affected employees were notified Sept. 4, the same day Clark sent the WARN to the state, but it was not made public until Thursday afternoon.
Nancy Tower, president and CEO of Tampa Electric, plans to retire in mid 2021. Tower has been head of Tampa Electric since 2017, a year after the utility company was acquired by Emera (TSX: EMA), a Canadian-based energy firm. She will continue to lead Tampa Electric until her retirement. The company will begin a search for her replacement this fall, a news release said. “Tampa Electric is a growing and dynamic utility that we believe will attract the highest caliber candidates both internally and externally. The successful candidate will work with the strong leadership team to continue to advance Tampa Electric’s strategy, as the utility works to deliver cleaner, affordable and reliable energy to its customers," Scott Balfour, president and CEO of Emera, said in the release.
The League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area will hold its next Thursday Nights With The League virtual forum tonight (Thursday, Sept. 24) at 7 p.m. and will feature a statement from Dan Helm, who is running against incumbent Julie Marcus for Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. Marcus is not participating. There will also be a live question-and-answer session where viewers can submit queries on the topic of voting.. This forum will be moderated by K.W. "Ken" Wrede. To watch live, visit the League of Women Voters Facebook page or YouTube channel.
U.S. Representative Charlie Crist has announced a $349,895 grant to Goodwill Industries to improve and expand local services available to victims of human trafficking. The grant, administered by the Department of Justice, will specifically fund staffing and training to create programs that will support services to human trafficking survivors and help them heal and move forward. Goodwill provides a wide variety of community-based programs for marginalized or disadvantaged individuals and is funded under the Services for Victims of Human Trafficking solicitation.
Moody's Investors Services has downgraded its rating on debt held by Tampa General Hospital. The credit agency downgraded the rating from A3 to Baa1 with a stable outlook. Both are investment-grade ratings although the Baa1 rating has "moderate risk," according to Moody's. Moody's also assigned a Baa1 rating to Tampa General's proposed new debt, three bond issues totaling $569 million. The new debt will be used fund large capital projects that will drive increases in inpatient, outpatient and surgical volumes, boosting revenue and strengthening profitability, Moody's said in a Sept. 16 report. But the construction work won't be completed until 2025 and there are uncertainties related to Covid-19, the report said. In a separate report, Fitch Ratings said most of the new projects are accretive to Tampa General's operating performance and that "ample and stable cash flow will allow TGH to steadily rebuild its balance sheet to offset the additional debt." Fitch also cited Tampa General's strong and growing market position and an enhanced collaboration with the University of South Florida School of Medicine. Fitch assigned an A rating to the new debt, affirmed the A rating on existing debt and upgraded Tampa General's outlook to positive from stable.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, Amalie Arena and Vinik Sports Group have launched the 'Be the Thunder. Be the Vote." platform, a program focused on civic engagement and education while providing important, non-partisan resources for voters. The program, available here, has information and key dates leading up to the Nov. 3 election. This page will be continually updated with important links and other materials. Vinik Sports Group will close its corporate offices on Nov. 3 so employees may vote and/or work at polling locations. Amalie Arena will be an early-voting location as well as a mail-in ballot drop-off location from Oct. 19 through Nov. 1. The facility will be open every day from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Tampa General Hospital and Royal Philips have agreed to a seven-year strategic partnership that will upgrade technology throughout the hospital. Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, will provide the hospital with millions of dollars’ worth of new solutions such as new software packages, healthcare informatics, unique workflow solutions and high-level consulting, a news release said. Tampa General will replace all bedside patient and vital sign monitors throughout the 1,006-bed hospital and upgrade key imaging equipment in the catheterization laboratories and interventional radiology rooms. Philips also plans to deliver a standardized platform, providing doctors and clinicians with a better overall view of the patient to help make the best decisions when it comes to diagnosis and providing world-class care, the news release said. Financial terms were not disclosed. Tampa General is the largest hospital in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.
Pinellas County Schools is holding a virtual information session for people with bachelor's degrees or higher who are interested in becoming teachers through the district's Transition to Teaching program, which helps with the certification process. The session will be held September 30 from 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Register by September 25 by clicking here.
United Insurance Holdings expects to report $135 million in catastrophe losses before income taxes in the third quarter of 2020. After taxes, the losses will be about $107 million, the company said in a news release. The expected losses are net of expected reinsurance recoveries. Q3 catastrophe losses include claims from six named windstorms and other non-named windstorm catastrophe events. The named windstorms are: Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Hanna, Hurricane Isaias, Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Marco, and Hurricane Sally. United Insurance (Nasdaq: UIHC) is a St. Petersburg-based property and casualty insurance firm that does business as UPC Insurance.
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners Tuesday night approved a $2.7 billion county budget for the 2021 fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. Commissioners separately approved budgets and millage rates countywide and for several municipal services taxing units and other taxing districts. The millage rates determine the amount of property taxes paid. The county is generating more revenue because of increased property values, so having the same millage rate equates to a tax increase, Bill Berger, director of the office of management and budget, told commissioners. Most of that is going into reserves, as the county is looking at a two-year budget cycle, said Barry Burton, county administrator. Board members voted six to one to approve the budget, with Commissioner Kathleen Peters casting the only dissenting vote.
Kevin Knutson has been named assistant county administrator in Pinellas County. Knutson will be responsible for administrative services, economic development, marketing and communications, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, a news release said. Knutson was most recently a vice president with Envisio Solutions, a software company with local government clients, and he is a former assistant city manager and interim city manager for the City of Reno, Nevada. In Florida, he previously served as director of marketing and communications, and budget and strategic planning manager for the City of Coral Springs. Knutson replaces an ACA position that became vacant earlier this year.
The St. Anthony's Triathlon is back on the calendar for 2021. The annual race, with a course that takes participants through much of St. Petersburg, was cancelled this year due to Covid-19 but has been scheduled for April 23-April 25, 2021. The event has been ranked as the fourth largest triathlon in the country. "Our goal is to have an in-person race in 2021. But it all depends on how well the pandemic is under control," Scott Smith, St. Anthony's Hospital president, said in a news release. Race organizers are looking at other races that have been staged successfully to gather their best practices, said Patrick McGee, Triathlon manager and race director. The three-day weekend includes an Olympic-Distance Triathlon and a shorter-distance Sprint Triathlon, both on on April 25, as well as a Meek & Mighty Triathlon, a race for novice adults and children new to the sport on April 24. The weekend also includes the St. Anthony’s Triathlon Sports & Fitness Expo. Registration opens at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. Click here for more information.
