Update: Nine Jobs Already Created With
County’s Small Business Job Creation Program
Within the first week of accepting applications for Hillsborough County’s new small business reimbursement incentive program, three local businesses have already been pre-approved to receive reimbursements, allowing them to hire three new employees each. The program is designed to promote job creation in Hillsborough County by offering a wage reimbursement to small businesses owners.
The three local businesses are: Fry and Associates in Plant City, which has been pre-approved to receive $11,700 for three employees; Apollo Beach Air in Apollo Beach, which has been pre-approved to receive $10,400 for three employees; and Absolute Auto Repair in Dover, which has been pre-approved to receive $11,700 also for three employees. The funding will be provided to the businesses after they fulfill the requirements of the program, including employing the new staff for a minimum of three months.
The three small business owners are excited about the program, as it is helping them hire employees they needed, but perhaps could not afford without assistance.
“We were going to wait and hire in the summer, but, now, we are able to hire now,” said Cathy Kudlinski of Absolute Auto Repair.
The incentive program, proposed by County Commissioner Sandra L. Murman, was approved by the Board of County Commissioners on March 16.
The reimbursement pays small businesses up to 50 percent of three months’ total salary of new jobs created, capped at $3,900 per new employee. It is estimated that this program will encourage the creation of approximately 200 jobs, offering a total of $500,000 to local small business owners.
To qualify, small business owners have to attend a minimum of four hours of business workshops and/or counseling sessions and meet specific requirements, such as having 10 employees or less; jobs created must be full-time and last the required three-month employment period; businesses must have a Hillsborough County business tax receipt; new employees must be residents of Hillsborough County and businesses must be located in Hillsborough County; and businesses may be reimbursed for up to three created jobs. Additional requirements are listed on the program application.
Small business owners can download an application and more information from the Hillsborough County Small, Minority Business Development Section’s Web page at: www.hillsboroughcounty.org/econdev/. The applications will be accepted on a first-come / first-serve basis until the program funding runs out.
For additional information, contact the Hillsborough County Small, Minority Business Development Section at (813) 914-4028.
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Media: The three businesses have agreed to media interviews. Their contact information is:
- Yvonne Fry-Fry and Associates (Plant City), Phone: 813-319-9000
- James Martin-Apollo Beach Air, Phone: 813-645-0381
- Cathy Kudlinski-Absolute Auto Repair in Dover, Phone: 813-659-1302
