County invites public to 2019 Business Recovery Expo next week

County invites public to 2019 Business Recovery Expo next week
Posted on 04/17/2019

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (April 17, 2019) – Manatee County will host its annual Business Recovery Expo next week to share information with local business owners on how to prepare for this year's Hurricane Season and natural disasters.

The expo, "Are You Ready?," is free and open to the public. It will be held Thursday, April 25 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd, Palmetto. The event is organized by Manatee County Economic Development, a division of the Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity department.

Business resiliency professionals will present information on preparedness and recovery. Speakers and topics include: 

  • Tasha Carter, Director of the Division of Consumer Services, Florida Department of Financial Services – Disaster Preparedness: Insuring Your Most Important Asset: Your Business
  • Patricia Staebler, State-Certified Appraiser, Staebler Appraisal and Consulting –Navigate the 50% FEMA Rule Process
  • Justin Mosley, Chief Meteorologist, Suncoast Network News -- 2019 Hurricane Season Forecast

“The goal of the Business Recovery Expo is to engage local businesses and to bring attention to the process of having a plan and being prepared,” said Karen Stewart, Interim Deputy County Administrator and County Economic Development Official. “Disasters come in all forms, shapes and sizes – not just bad weather. Preparation is key.”

The expo will feature exhibits from local disaster recovery businesses and nonprofit organizations as well as workshop speakers from the National Weather Service and Florida Power & Light, and lessons learned from the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center. Partners assisting with the event include the Bradenton Area Economic Development Council, Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and Manatee County Emergency Management.

For more information, call Bruno Kapacinskas at (941) 749-3029 ext. 6218 or email him at [email protected]

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.