Task Force To Help Get Businesses, Residents Back To Work

TAMPA, FL — Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa have asked the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council to put together an economic recovery task force to help businesses and workers get back on their feet following the coronavirus crisis.

The task force will be asked to develop an economic recovery plan within the next 30 days.

The EDC is the lead economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace.

The task force will focus on three key areas:

1. Re-employing and retraining dislocated workers
2. Supporting local businesses
3. Short- and long-term recovery strategies

In addition to economic development staff from the EDC, CareerSource Tampa Bay, the city and the county, the task force will include leaders from private industry, the workforce, universities, business owners and business and workforce advocates.

“The Tampa Bay EDC is the logical entity to spearhead this initiative,” said Lesley “Les” Miller, chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. “The EDC staff can coordinate quickly and strategically with city and county economic development teams to identify key stakeholders across the community who can offer solutions tailored to our local economic recovery challenges.”

“With the Tampa Bay EDC tasked with convening experts, coordinating working groups and communicating their plan and recommendations to us, our city and county leaders can focus on other facets of the recovery process,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “The guidance from this Economic Recovery Task Force will allow us to make more informed decisions that will help our businesses and residents get back on their feet faster.”

“The Tampa Bay EDC is honored to assume this important role and contribute to the revitalization of our local economy,” said Marie Chinnici-Everitt, chair of the Tampa Bay EDC. “Scores of residents and local businesses are hurting, and we need to come together to devise effective solutions to the many challenges our community is facing.”
While the Tampa Bay EDC and the economic recovery task force teams will make recommendations and deliver a plan to local elected leaders, they will not create or implement public policy or oversee any loan or relief programs.

“Our mission as economic developers is to support local businesses and assist them in getting the resources they need to operate in this crisis and its aftermath,” said Craig J. Richard, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. “Together with our city and county colleagues, we look forward to bringing the best minds in our business, academic and nonprofit communities to the table to help our economy adapt to this new reality and regain its momentum.”