BayCare Health System reported $94.3 million in operating income for the six months ended June 30, a 39 percent drop from the $154.7 million in operating income the Clearwater-based healthcare provider reported a year ago. Total operating revenue for the first half of 2020 was $2.09 billion, down 3 percent from total operating revenue of $2.15 billion in the first half of 2019, according to a financial report for bondholders. Hospital discharges — a measure of patients who leave the hospital after receiving care — were down 18 percent, with 73,737 discharges in the first half of 2020 compared to 89,976 in the same period in the prior year. BayCare and other hospital systems could not perform elective surgical procedures for several weeks during the first half of the year under a state order designed to ensure the hospitals had capacity to care for Covid-19 patients. BayCare voluntarily suspended some elective procedures in July, but has since resumed performing them. BayCare also disclosed to bondholders that it received an additional $10.5 million in CARES Act funding in July, in addition to the $102.8 million from the CARES Act that it received as of June 30.
NASA is testing a system developed at University of South Florida that would allow astronauts to grow fresh vegetables in space. The Organic Processor Assembly, developed by Daniel Yeh, a civil and environmental engineering professor at USF, converts human waste into fertilizer and water, a news release said. The technology is being sent to Kennedy Space Center next week to test its effectiveness under simulated space mission conditions. Read more in the St. Pete Catalyst Venture report here.
Apyx Medical Corp. reported $4.3 million in total revenue for the second quarter of 2020, a 35 percent decrease in revenue from the same period a year ago. The net loss for the three months ended June 30 was $4.7 million, or 14 cents a share, compared to a net loss of $4.3 million, or 13 cents a share, for the second quarter of 2019. The decrease was primarily due to lower sales as a result of Covid-19, the Clearwater-based company said in a news release. Apyx (Nasdaq: APYX) makes medical devices and supplies, including for the cosmetic surgery market. Demand was down from cosmetic surgery customers worldwide as a result of preventative or protective actions taken by governments in each of the company's primary markets in response to the pandemic, said Charlie Goodwin, president and CEO. As temporary closures of non-essential businesses and restrictions on elective procedures were lifted in May, the company saw a steady increase in the number of practices reopening and a resumption of patient treatment activity, Goodwin said.
Healthy St. Pete's 4th Annual Fit City 5K will be held virtually from Saturday, Oct. 4, to Sunday, Oct. 10. This year's theme is "Glow in the Park," and proceeds will support the Healthy Kids virtual programming, which encourages free virtual fitness and fun activities during out-of-school time. Registration is $25 and includes a t-shirt, race bib, medal and glow kit if racers register by September 21. Racers can sign up at HealthyStPeteFL.com. Scholarships are available by contacting Christie Bruner, Healthy St. Pete Community Engagement Supervisor, at christie.bruner@stpete.org.
Digital Inclusion St. Pete and eSmart Recycling are hosting a Gadgets for Good electronics drive Saturday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m - 2 p.m. at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, 2333 34th St. South. The drive is aimed at collecting gadgets to support members of the community who don't have access to technology. Items accepted for curbside dropoff include computers, keyboards, tablets, cell phones and more, although televisions are not eligible. For a full list of acceptable items, click here.
President Trump has signed the Veteran Treatment Court Coordination Act, a measure cosponsored by Rep. Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg. The new law means that thousands of veterans across the country facing the criminal justice system will have an alternative to jail time, ensuring they get the treatment they need, Crist said in a news release. Many veterans experience mental health issues, substance abuse, and homelessness, which can often land them in the criminal justice system, the news release said. Th new law establishes a program within the Office of Justice Programs at Department of Justice, in coordination with the VA, to provide grants, training, and technical assistance to help state, local, and tribal governments develop and maintain veteran treatment courts.
The newly released Fortune Global 500 includes two companies headquartered in the Tampa Bay area. Publix Super Markets, based in Lakeland, is No. 325 on the list, with $38.5 billion in revenue, while Clearwater based IT distributor Tech Data comes in at No. 341, with $37 billion in revenue. Companies on the list are ranked by total revenues for their respective fiscal years ended on or before March 31, 2020. See the full list here. Publix, which moved up 18 spots on this year's list, has been part of the Fortune Global 500 for 26 years. Tech Data, which recently became a privately owned company, has been on the list for 22 years. Tech Data slipped 11 spots on this year's list.
The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay connects people and resources to inspire charitable giving and create a meaningful, lasting impact on our region - and they've been doing it for 3 decades. Publisher Joe Hamilton welcomes both "the deep roots and innovative spirit of the CFTB as we strive to connect nonprofits to citizens to opportunities to make an impact." Explore the Catalyst Impact section to watch Impact Catalyst, check the Impact Connector and keep up with all the people working to make our community and world a better place.
A new drive-thru Covid-19 testing site is scheduled to open Monday, Aug. 10 at 7 a.m. at the Ruth Eckerd Hall parking lot in Clearwater. The site is in partnership with BayCare Health System, Pinellas County, the City of Clearwater, the Florida Department of Health Pinellas County and Ruth Eckerd Hall. Pinellas County, the City of Clearwater, FDOH and Ruth Eckerd Hall are providing logistical, public safety and clinical teams for the site while BayCare will provide management, testing and results notification of patients. Testing will be available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Patients are encouraged to bring a referral from a medical provider and those who do not will be screened based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Testing will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more testing locations, residents can visit https://covid19.
The Florida Venture Forum and the Florida Venture Education Foundation will hold the 13th annual Early Stage Capital Conference on Oct. 15. The 2020 Early Stage Conference will be in a virtual format so viewers can pick and choose which sessions are of interest to them. The conference will offer selected company presentations, breakout informative sessions, and one-on-one meetings between companies and investors. The conference also will feature the 10th annual Statewide Collegiate Start-up Competition representing Florida’s major colleges and universities. Additionally, prize money provided by Space Florida will be awarded to the top early-stage companies at the conclusion of the conference. To register for the event, click here.
Women’s Running magazine founder Dawna Stone and her sister, Michele Stone, have launched a new women’s running series. The races will take place October 17 and 18 with all the fanfare that usually accompanies a live race. Events being held during race weekend include the Virtual Women's Half Marathon, a 10K, a 5K, a double challenge (half marathon and 10K) and a triple challenge (half marathon, 10K and 5K). Benefits from the running series will go to Feeding America's Covid-19 Response Fund. To register, click here.
Pinellas County is making $34 million in CARES act funding available to nonprofits and child care facilities impacted by Covid-19. Applications for the funding open on Friday, Aug. 7. The county has partnered with the Pinellas Community Foundation to distribute $29.7 million to nonprofit organization that provide community services in the areas of food, homelessness, behavioral health, and legal aid for housing. Eligible nonprofits can apply at www.pinellascf.org/CARES Separately, the county and the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County will provide $4.6 million to licensed child care organizations whose business was negatively impacted due to Covid-19. The Pinellas CARES Child Care Provider Grant will provide one-time grants of up to $10,000 to cover expenses such as employee wages, vendor bills, rent, and health and safety investments. The Early Learning Coalition will contact all eligible providers directly via email with application instructions, a news release said. Eligible providers that do not receive an email or need assistance applying can contact the ELC at 727-400-4436 or ceckrem@elcpinellas.org.
