Tampa Bay Innovation Center Launches CO.STARTERS: REBUILD to Help Business Recover

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – (June 19, 2020) – Tampa Bay Innovation Center, a business incubator, accelerator and coworking entrepreneurial center, is now accepting applications for CO.STARTERS Rebuild, a  10-week, live-facilitated virtual program that helps small businesses impacted by COVID-19 refocus, stabilize, and build toward long-term recovery.

The Rebuild program is part of a five-step business “Road to Recovery” framework created by CO.STARTERS, an international entrepreneur support organization.   Entrepreneurs who participate in the Rebuild program will be able to confidently move forward with actionable next steps for their business, identify creative solutions, find both short-term and long-term financial stability, and adapt in an uncertain environment.

“Small businesses are a major economic driver contributing nearly half of the overall growth of the economy.  They have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.  By offering the Rebuild program we aim to help our local economy recover more quickly by providing the tools for small businesses to drive innovation, growth and jobs.” said Chris Paradies, Tampa Bay Innovation Center chairman and CO.STARTERS facilitator.

The program, valued at $550, is being offered during this challenging time to local businesses, entrepreneurs, and freelancers for a reduced rate of $275.  Additionally, the Tampa Bay Innovation Center has received funding from Creative Pinellas to support artists, art organizations and arts-related organizations within Pinellas County to participate in the Rebuild Program at no cost.

Rebuild will run virtually from July 15 through September 16, 2020.   To learn more about the Rebuild program, visit www.tbinnovates.com/rebuild.

About Tampa Bay Innovation Center:

Tampa Bay Innovation Center supports entrepreneurial success, fosters the creation of high-tech jobs and develops new sources of technology and manufacturing capabilities by nurturing early stage ventures as they grow and launch their products into the marketplace. The Innovation Center offers programs that are tailored to the innovator/entrepreneur and address business intelligence, planning and business formation, strategy execution and technology transition.

Follow Tampa Bay Innovation Center on Twitter, www.twitter.com/tbinnovates, LinkedIn,  https://www.linkedin.com/company/tampa-bay-innovation-center, Instagram,  https://www.instagram.com/tbinnovates/ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tbinnovationcenter.

About Creative Pinellas

Creative Pinellas is the designated arts agency of Pinellas County.  The mission of Creative Pinellas is to facilitate a vibrant, integrated, collaborative and sustainable Pinellas County Arts Community and Arts and Cultural Destination.  Creative Pinellas offers various programs and grant opportunities for the artists, artist organizations and art related organizations.  To learn more visit:  https://creativepinellas.org/.

About CO.STARTERS

CO.STARTERS helps individuals and communities thrive through entrepreneurship by equipping them with strategy, tools, and relationships. Building on initial grassroots efforts with small business starters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the CO.STARTERS network now has an international reach with thousands participating in its programs annually. Since 2008, CO.STARTERS has equipped more than 690 local leaders across 200+ communities, helping more than 12,000 starters move forward with their ventures. From the beginning, CO.STARTERS has pioneered a community-based approach to economic development, and has played a leading national role in increasing small business success and growing entrepreneurial ecosystems.

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