Dear Friends:
I want to stay in touch and help keep you informed about what is going on in our community. Periodically I will send you information about precautions the county is taking to combat the COVID virus, business incentives, park updates, government operations and general good news about our community that you want to know.
If you have good news or have an upcoming community event, send it to me and it could be included in a a future Community News.
Sincerely, 
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The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women - Consumer Quarterback Show
The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women is a nonprofit organization offering a diverse array of programs to help women in the Tampa Bay region to succeed both personally and professionally. Our programs and services empower, educate and elevate women. The Centre for Women's dedicated staff and loyal volunteers are involved in helping more than 3,000 people each year.
View HERE
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Scholarship Opportunities
It may be March, but there are still amazing scholarships available for our students. Act now and talk to your school counselors for more opportunities!
D.E.L.T.A Inc.’s Kevin Knox II Scholarship - Applicant must be a graduating, college-bound high school senior who attends school in Hillsborough County. The target population is African American male or female students who need financial assistance to begin their first year of college. GPA of 3.0 - 3.49 is strictly observed. More information. Applications due by March 26, 2021.
BHW Scholarship - Women who are pursuing an undergraduate or master's degree and are majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics during the 2021 school year. For more information and to apply, visit: https://thebhwgroup.com/scholarship - Applications due by April 14, 2021.
Hillsborough Technical, Career and Adult Association Scholarship - This scholarship is for graduating CTE or Adult Ed completers who plan to attend Hillsborough Technical College Postsecondary Institution. Weighted GPA of 2.5. See your college and career counselor for an application. Application due by March 23, 2021.
Check out a long list of other scholarships still available!
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Looking for a summer job?
Tampa Parks & Recreation is hiring various seasonal summer positions including pool guards, recreation leaders, camp leaders, and more! Get involved with the community and have fun!
Learn more about the positions and apply online at: Tampa.gov/Jobs
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Florida Bike Month is Here, Many Events Scheduled
Governor DeSantis has declared March Florida Bike Month. To celebrate, a number of events are scheduled across the state, all to encourage you to get on your bike and ride! Among local events coming up:
- March 14: Dean's Ride in Plant City
- March 14: Ride 4 the Animals in Dunedin
- March 15: Starkey MTB Trails Group Ride in New Port Richey
- March 17: Mayor's Proclamation Signing in Temple Terrace
- March 21: Clean Air Ride in Inverness
Read more HERE
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Register for HART's Virtual Small Business Forum
HART will be hosting a Virtual Small Business Forum for Small Business Enterprise (SBE) vendors to receive instruction on certification, registration, and applying for opportunities:
- HART Procurement will share how to find opportunities
- Obtain information from local agencies that offer free small business certifications
- Get steps on how to register as a potential vendor with HART
The education workshop will be held Thursday, March 25, 2021, from 10:00AM - 11:30AM. For more information, contact DBE@GoHART.org.
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Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Program to help with past-due rental and electric bills; landlords can register starting March 16; online applications open March 23
Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa have received more than $44 million from the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to assist residents who are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Landlords can register starting Tuesday, March 16 and online applications open Tuesday, March 23 at 10 a.m. for eligible residents.
This initiative was established to prevent recipients from experiencing further financial hardship or additional consequences to living conditions by providing eligible and approved households up to $7,500 for past-due rent and up to $750 for past-due TECO electric bills.
If you know someone struggling to pay past-due rent and utilities because of the pandemic or volunteer with clients who may need assistance, please direct them to HCFLGov.net/R3HomeHelp for more details about the program.
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Telework Tips from Commute Tampa Bay Available
If you missed Commute Tampa Bay's telework webinar, never fear! Work from Home Past the Pandemic is now online and available to view on YouTube.
In this webinar, you'll learn more on how to stay focused and productive when teleworking. We also discuss what the future holds for telework as we pull out of the pandemic and more workers return to the office. You'll find out how to discuss and develop new telework procedures that best meet the needs of both managers and employees, post COVID-19.
Click here to watch the Work from Home Past the Pandemic webinar
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East Bay High School Cheer Team wins state competition for the second year in a row
East Bay’s coed cheer team competed at the state’s competition on January 23. This is their second consecutive win, which was a goal for them this season. They were able to prove their talents and hard work by winning states again.
This team had intense three-hour practices five days a week in order to prepare. Here, they practiced their routine over and over again in order to memorize it and perfect it. These practices not only allowed the team to grow in skill but as a family as well. One thing that this team really values is each other; they value each and every person on the team, and this is shown with their continued success at competitions.
Read more HERE
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Get The Dirt: Spring Gardening In Hillsborough County
March is ready, set…garden month in Hillsborough County. We’re past the last chance of frost, and we can put plans and plants into place as we recycle and redesign our landscape beds.
It’s a good time to shape and reduce the size of landscape plants. Don’t prune gardenias and azaleas until after they have bloomed. For ornamental grasses, cut the stems to 4-12 inches above the ground, depending on the size of the clump. Recycle your landscape clippings in your compost bin. If you’re raking oak leaves, compost or use them as mulch in a landscape bed.
Learn more HERE
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ECHO Opens New Thrift Shop
424 W. Brandon Blvd. Brandon, FL 33511
On January 22, ECHO, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting residents of unincorporated Hillsborough County with emergency food, clothing and access to life-stabilizing programs and resources, saw its chance and opened its very own thrift store.
Shopping at ECHO Thrift you not only are getting a deal you are also helping a neighbor in need. Sales from ECHO Thrift help fund our job coaching initiative, English & Spanish GED program, financial counseling, workshops, emergency food and clothing and much more.
Read more HERE
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Tampa water changes to affect Pebble Creek
A Tampa Water Department maintenance project is expected to affect some Hillsborough County water customers, including those living in Pebble Creek, according to a Hillsborough County news release.
The Tampa Water Department plans to temporarily change its water disinfection process to chlorine, from March 8 to March 29. The water distributed in Pebble Creek during that period will be converted from chloramine to chlorine disinfection. The system is scheduled to return to chloramine disinfection by March 30, according to the release. Customers within the affected areas may notice a slight difference in the taste and odor of their drinking water while chlorine is in use.
Read more HERE
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City of Tampa proposing to sell Tampa Police headquarters downtown
A prime piece of downtown real estate may soon hit the market, forcing Tampa police officers to relocate. The distinct blue building, located at 411 N. Franklin St., has been home to the Tampa Police Department for more than two decades.
City of Tampa officials say the building is past its prime and in need of $35 million in repairs. “That building is in need of such repairs that the millions of dollars that it would cost to repair it, it’s not economically feasible,” said Sal Ruggiero, Deputy Administrator of Infrastructure Services. “It’s better to go to a new structure.”
Read more HERE
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Additional County Vaccination Site to Open March 17
Hillsborough County will open a new COVID-19 public vaccination location on Wednesday, March 17 inside TPepin's Hospitality Centre, 4121 N. 50th St. in Tampa.
Vaccine Eligibility Expanding to Individuals Age 60 and Above
In alignment with the governor's Executive Order 21-62, individuals 60 years of age and older can begin making appointments on Monday, March 15 for a vaccination at one of Hillsborough County's public vaccination locations. The County's drive-thru vaccination sites are located at Vance Vogel Sports Complex, 13012 Bullfrog Creek Road in Gibsonton, and Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Drive in Tampa
Read more HERE
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Hillsborough County Accepting Applications for 2021 Historic Preservation Challenge Grant Program
Hillsborough County is now accepting applications for the Historic Preservation Challenge Grant Program for the Fiscal Year 2021 cycle of grants. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, May 7 at 5 p.m.
The Historic Preservation Challenge Grant Program promotes historic preservation, heritage tourism, and economic development within Hillsborough County. Available grant funds are awarded to selected applicants on a minimum of one-to-one matching basis, not to exceed an award of $250,000 per applicant, per project in any County budget year.
Projects eligible for funding must be located in Hillsborough County (incorporated or unincorporated) and fall within one or more of the following non-residential project types:
Read more HERE
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