small business

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

Sandy launches part of her Job Creation plan for Hillsborough County today.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEWS
March 16, 2011

Incentive Program For Small Business Job Creation Approved

By Hillsborough County Commission

An incentive program proposed by County Commissioner Sandra L. Murman, District 1, to reward small business owners who create jobs was green-lighted today by the Board of County Commissioners.

The small business reimbursement incentive program is designed to promote job creation in Hillsborough County by offering a wage reimbursement to small businesses owners. The reimbursement would pay 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.

“Hillsborough County needs to grow our economic base and we need to improve the opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs within our region,” said Commissioner Murman. “This initiative will have a real impact on the opportunities for
local growth of the small business sector.”

To qualify, small business owners would 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; 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 will be listed on the program application.

The incentive program will start on March 21, 2011. On that date, small business owners will be able to 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 County Small, Minority Business Development Section at (813) 914-4028.

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Media: for more information, contact Commissioner Sandra L. Murman’s office at (813) 272-5470 or Gene Gray, Utilities and Commerce Administrator, at (813) 272-6210.

Sandy Murman

Sandy launches Small Business Job Creation for Hillsborough Co