March 24th eView

 

 

 

Catalyst

 

 

FINAL WEEK TO NOMINATE!

 

Just a few days left to nominate your favorite Tampa Bay small business for the Small Business of the Year Awards! SBOY is an opportunity to honor the best-of-the-best small businesses in the region. The nomination period for this year’s awards program is open through March 28th!

Attend one of our upcoming SBOY Information Sessions:

 

Check out the DayTime TV Show segment featuring this year’s Small Business of the Year Awards Committee Chair Kristin Johnson and 2024 Outstanding Business Leader Micha Seal who spoke about the SBOY nomination season and the application process.

 

 

 

 

 

FINAL DAY TO APPLY!

 

Small businesses may apply for a Tampa Bay Small Business Disaster Relief grant!

 

At the 2024 Tampa Bay Chamber Small Business of the Year awards ceremony, Brian Adcock of Adcock Financial Group and Brian Butler of Vistra Communications, announced the Tampa Bay Small Business Disaster Relief fund in partnership with United Way Suncoast.

 

Businesses Eligible to Receive a Grant

  1. For-profit businesses
  2. Fewer than 50 employees
  3. Serving the Greater Tampa Bay Region
  4. Businesses that experienced damage or negative impact from the 2024 hurricanes

How to Apply for a Grant

  1. Read more about the fund and access a PDF preview of the application on the United Way Suncoast website.
  2. Register your business on the EC-Impact website and complete your submission online.
  3. Submit your application directly in the grant portal here
  4. Navigate to “Current Open Investments” or “Click for Current Open Investments” and select “2024-2025 Disaster Recovery for Small Businesses.”

Submit your application no later than March 24, 2025 to be considered for a grant.

 

If you would like to contribute to the fund, you can access the donation page here.

 

Please contact datateam@uwsuncoast.org with any questions about these grants or the grant application system

 

 

 

Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation Receives $1 Million Grant Through the 2024 TD Ready Challenge to Support Small Businesses

 

The Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation is pleased to announce it has received a $1 million grant through the 2024 TD Ready Challenge, an annual initiative of TD that seeks to support nonprofit organizations developing impactful, measurable solutions for communities within the bank’s footprint. This year, the program sought organizations finding innovative solutions that support underserved small business owners in developing, launching, or growing their businesses.

 

 

 

 

 

Leadership Tampa ’26 Applications NOW OPEN!

 

Applications for the Leadership Tampa Class of 2026 are OPEN and will be available through May 6th.

 

Leadership Tampa is exclusive to the Tampa Bay Chamber and serves as an intensive executive leadership program. During the program year, the diverse group of participants will GAIN insight into the major facets of our region through educational sessions, tours and candid conversations with community leaders. Class members also benefit from a “behind-the-scenes” look at the Tampa Bay region, challenging them to GIVE back and GROW their community.

 

 

Make sure to sign up for one of our Leadership Tampa Information Sessions happening in April!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We recently held another amazing LTA Spring Fling & Leadership Tampa ’26 Recruitment reception, hosted at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Our Leadership Tampa Alumni had the opportunity to re-connect with fellow alumni and share their Leadership Tampa experience with prospective LT’26 class members. The enthusiastic turnout and engaging conversations highlighted the program’s continuing impact on our community’s professional development. We’re excited to announce that Leadership Tampa ’26 applications are now open and we encourage all qualified professionals to apply for this transformative experience!

 

Inclusive Organization

 

 

Join us on April 9th for Operation Partnership: Recruit and Retain Military Talent, a must-attend event for businesses looking to tap into the exceptional skills and leadership that military veterans and spouses bring to the workforce! Our expert speakers include Jessi Fazio from Tampa Bay MSEEZ, Dr. Wayne Taylor from the University of South Florida, and Roger Trout, Army Reserve Ambassador, who will share invaluable insights on creating successful recruitment and retention strategies for military affiliated talent.

 

Thank you to our sponsor, USAA!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay & Collegiate Leadership Tampa Bay Engage Series at The Beck Group

Recently, Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay and Collegiate Leadership Tampa Bay came together for an impactful Engage Series event, fostering connections between young professionals and the next generation of leaders. The evening provided a unique opportunity for attendees to expand their networks, exchange insights, and discuss the future of their professional careers.

Thank you to The Beck Group for graciously sponsoring and hosting both groups and providing an inspiring backdrop for meaningful conversations. Events like these are essential in bridging the gap between emerging and established professionals, ensuring that Tampa Bay’s future remains strong, innovative, and well-connected.

We look forward to continuing these collaborative experiences and empowering our region’s next wave of leaders!