Applications opened on Sept. 3 for the Independent Restaurant Coalition and Chase Disaster Relief Fund, a $3 million grant program for independently owned restaurants, bars, cafés and food trucks impacted by natural disasters within the past year. The grants can be used to cover property damage, temporary operating expenses, lost inventory and other recovery costs. … Read more

Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed Port Tampa Bay’s “A+” rating on approximately $62.3 million in outstanding revenue bonds and notes, maintaining a stable outlook for the port’s financial future. The rating reflects the port’s diversified operating revenues, supported by long-term contractual agreements, stable liquidity, low leverage and a capital plan largely funded by grants and port … Read more

In an increasingly complex and unequal economic landscape, Thomas A. Carver, CEO of Harren Equity Partners, is making a clear and urgent appeal to his peers in the investment world: success comes with responsibility—and that responsibility extends beyond shareholders and balance sheets to the very communities where wealth is created. In a recent op-ed published … Read more

For years, conservatives have rightly sounded the alarm on the massive waste, fraud, and abuse plaguing our federal government. Through initiatives like DOGE—the Department of Government Efficiency—we’ve exposed just how bloated and broken our federal bureaucracy has become.  And while those revelations have been invaluable in waking up Americans to the scale of the problem, … Read more

As Tampa Bay’s population grows, so does the demand on regional law enforcement agencies. Over the last decade, counties in the Tampa Bay region have experienced substantial population increases, placing significant strain on law enforcement resources, staffing and facilities. While law enforcement may not immediately come to mind when considering an area’s infrastructure, it is … Read more

The Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation has been awarded a $1 million grant through the 2024 TD Ready Challenge, an initiative by TD Bank aimed at supporting nonprofits that help underserved communities. The funding will expand the foundation’s Minority Business Accelerator by launching the Empower Sustainability-Focused Accelerator program, designed to assist alumni in scaling their businesses. … Read more

David Bell, CEO of a national workplace drug testing company, has called for mandatory drug testing for all government employees, arguing that the policy could address financial shortcomings and improve economic stability. Bell outlined his perspective in a recent opinion piece, linking substance abuse within high-ranking officials to wasteful spending and potential national security risks. … Read more