$80 million program to boost expansions and job openings to applicants

CLEARWATER —Pinellas County Economic Development will open a second round of funding June 2 for its $80 million Employment Sites Program.

The project was created to help companies with the construction or redevelopment of industrial and office buildings as an economic driver and way to “attract new target industry employers” to the county, according to a statement. The first round of funding, which opened Jan. 11, brought in proposals that will create over 216,350 square feet of industrial space and 120,000 square feet of redeveloped offices, the release states. 

Information on how much money was doled out for those projects was not immediately available.

The Employment Sites Program is aimed at businesses looking to create jobs and expand while staying in Pinellas. Among the capital expenditures allowed are site preparation, infrastructure development and site acquisition.

Anyone interested in applying must first meet with staff members from the economic development office before submitting an application. All applicants must turn in a financing plan that shows the lack of funding that would keep the proposed project from coming to fruition.

For more details on the program and how to apply, go to www.PCED.org/esp.

Applications will be accepted from June 2 through July 3 at 3 p.m.