Government Digest 1/29/10

Online guide for small biz
ST. PETERSBURG — The city of St. Petersburg unveiled a one-stop online reference guide for small businesses, www.StPeteSBR.org, designed to help small businesses easily access city assistance programs, business incentives, marketing tools, databases, and more. The online guide lists more than 150 links covering city assistance, business services, database sources, and local, state, and national resources. In addition, the city's Business Assistance Center services and program offerings are featured. It is a one stop online reference guide that provides information relevant to the city's small business owners. For more information visit the Web site, or contact Kimberly Bailey, economic development coordinator, at (727) 893-7784 or email [email protected].

Fee increase postponed
SARASOTA COUNTY — County commissioners postponed an automatic increase in the road impact fee scheduled for June 1 to March 1, 2011. County staff will refine fee data and explore options, including a tiered system, and give their analysis to county commissioners this summer.

Unemployment tax targeted
TALLAHASSEE — Florida employers facing a 1,094% increase in the minimum unemployment tax rate may get relief from legislation early in the 2010 regular session. With the state unemployment rate now at 11.8%, Gov. Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, have announced plans to delay the unemployment tax rate increases that employers would otherwise begin paying in April.