PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Proposals from four local companies will go before Pinellas County commissioners Tuesday to see if county sales tax dollars can be used to help fund their future expansion plans.

The Employment Sites Program is funded by Penny for Pinellas, the voter-approved one-cent sales tax that voters most recently renewed in 2017.  

What You Need To Know

  • Under the Employment Sites Program, funds from Penny for Pinellas can go towards economic development initiatives

  • Proposals from four companies will go before county commission Tuesday for approval 

  • Yo Mama's Foods headquarters wants to expand operations to be able to fill more online orders 

  • Companies asking for between $400,000 and $4.4 million 

Historically, Penny for Pinellas funds are used for capital improvement projects like roads, stormwater upgrades, public safety equipment and more. During the most recent renewal, Pinellas County added the Employment Sites Program which contributes about 4.15% of the Penny for Pinellas funds to economic development capital projects and initiatives.

In order to get access to those funds, county commissioners must vote in favor of the local businesses' proposed expansion plans. Four plans, including the Bardmoor Palms Redevelopment, Monin HQ expansion, Pharmetric Laboratory expansion and the expansion of Yo Mama’s Foods headquarters are up for consideration on Tuesday.

Yo Mama’s Foods was started by Clearwater resident David Habib in 2017. While at first he filled orders out of his parents' house, Habib moved the company to its headquarters on Eldridge Street in Clearwater in 2019.

Over the last five years, he’s grown the company to 26 employees and sells in 25,000 stores and 17 countries. In order to expand his online and retail fulfillment, Habib is hoping to lease a nearby building. He’s asking for $400,000 from the Employment Sites Program in order to retrofit the space and add stormwater and fire suppression systems that meet code requirements.

His hope is with the expansion, he will be able to add 50% more employees.

“I think being able to partner and really create those partnerships with local businesses and give them the ability to ultimately stay here and grow here is wonderful,” he said. “I think in the North Greenwood area as well, we’re trying to be a staple here and create jobs and keep on growing our business.”

Over the 10-year stretch of the current Penny for Pinellas referendum, the county estimates about $93 million is going to economic development projects through this program