Electricity group awards scholarships at HC
TAMPA – Southeastern Electric Exchange, a non-profit trade association in the utility sector, has awarded a scholarship grant to support students enrolled in the Electrical Line Worker Training Program at Hillsborough College.
With the growing need for skilled utility workers across Florida and the nation, the grant aims to remove financial barriers and empower students to complete their training and enter the workforce well-prepared and without debt.
“We are proud to partner with Hillsborough College to invest in the future of our workforce,” said Scott H. Smith, executive director, Southeastern Electric Exchange, Inc. “Line workers are essential to maintaining our energy infrastructure, and this scholarship will help ensure that more individuals have access to the training they need to succeed in this critical field.”
Hillsborough College’s Electrical Line Worker Training Program offers hands-on instruction and safety training to prepare graduates for immediate employment opportunities with utility companies and contractors. The program has seen increasing enrollment as demand for line workers continues to rise.
Students interested in applying for the scholarship or to learn more about the Electrical Line Worker program can visit www.tampatraining.com/electrical-line-worker/ for more information.
Tax Collector to mail property tax notices
TAMPA – Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan says more than 490,000 property tax notices are in the mail. This year’s property tax collections are expected to total approximately $3.9 billion.
Taxpayers will notice changes on this year’s property tax bill reflecting recent state and local actions. The 2025 tax roll includes implementation of the homestead assessment banded increase cap, which provides additional protection for homesteaded properties by limiting annual assessment increases. Additionally, voter-approved school referendum millage changes will be reflected on tax bills.
“These changes demonstrate both legislative action at the state level and local voter priorities,” said Millan. “Property owners may see differences in their tax bills this year as a result of these new provisions, and we encourage everyone to review their notices carefully and reach out to our office with any questions.”
All 2025 property taxes are due by March 31, 2026.
Property owners with questions about payment options or their tax bill can visit HillsTaxFL.gov or call 813-635-5200.
Property owners with questions about their property values or exemptions can visit hcpafl.org or call 813-272-6100.
Hillsborough seeks input on future roadways
In response to public feedback, Hillsborough has updated its Corridor Preservation Plan and wants input from residents. The Florida Department of Transportation anticipates Hillsborough County’s population could increase by about 1 million people by 2070.
To keep up with the growth, Hillsborough planners are mapping out future roadways to ensure the scale, location, and rights-of-way are adequate to serve the needs of Hillsborough residents. To do so, an update is needed to the Corridor Preservation Plan (CPP), which is part of Hillsborough’s Comprehensive Plan.
The county will conduct a virtual engagement using the Hillsborough Engagement & Education Hub to collect feedback from the public on the Corridor Preservation Plan. Comment for this project is open through Saturday, Nov. 30. Visit HCFL.gov/HCEngage to participate.
The last major update to the CPP was 15 years ago. As land use patterns and travel habits constantly change, county planners want to ensure transportation is safe and efficient in Hillsborough for years to come. In July, Hillsborough County hosted the first round of public feedback on the CPP. Using that feedback , County leadership has updated the plan and is now collecting additional public comment through Nov. 30.
USF launches free online training for AI skills
TAMPA – The University of South Florida is offering a new, free microcourse focused on artificial intelligence. Designed for individuals with no technical background, the short-form program provides practical, flexible and self-paced opportunities for professionals, educators and the general public to build confidence and skills.
AI Whisperer: A Microcourse in Crafting Prompts for Generative AI helps learners discover how to select the right AI tools, craft effective prompts and generate high-quality outputs for use in reports, presentations and visuals.
Available through Feb. 28, 2026, the course is online, self-paced and free, with an optional $39 digital badge available upon successful completion. It takes approximately three to four hours to complete
An earlier microcourse, GenAI in Action: Impact and Possibilities, first launched in 2023 with more than 12,000 worldwide participants. Now, it’s being re-released after a version 2.0 attracted thousands of participants earlier this year. The latest version includes practice assessments, more flexible course progression and curated articles. Participants gain foundational knowledge about GenAI and its current role in multiple disciplines such as writing, research, teaching and learning, along with the tech industry.
It’s online, self-paced, free and available through Jan. 11, 2026. Completion time is about six hours.
Registration for both microcourses, as well as a variety of other programs, is available through the USF Office of Microcredentials.
County to pay tribute to veterans
HILLSBOROUGH – Hillsborough County Consumer & Veterans Services and the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County will host the 61st Annual Veterans Day Tribute on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m. on the grounds of Veterans Memorial Park & Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum, 3602 N. U.S. Hwy. 301, Tampa.
The annual event salutes veterans of all eras and military branches with a family-friendly celebration that is free and open to all. The outdoor tribute will feature a JROTC color guard and patriotic music, Veterans Council awards and special guests, and a variety of resources for veterans and military families.
Libraries to offer orchestra vouchers
The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative has partnered with The Florida Orchestra to offer free vouchers for library customers to see a select concert at a variety of venues for their 2025-2026 season.
The ticket vouchers are limited to two per person and will be on a first come first serve basis. For more information, visit your local library.
Axion Brain Health joins Hispanic Chamber
TAMPA – Axiom Brain Health (Axiom) has officially joined the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting on Oct. 23 to celebrate the partnership in this new era of innovation and scientific discovery.
“We wish this organization the best because of their impact in the community, supporting with health screens for memory. We are really looking forward to be able to get all of our members in the community to bring awareness to what this amazing organization does for the community. Thank you, and welcome and congratulations on your new opening,” said Mercedes Young, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay.
Research from the National Council on Aging shows that Latinos may be 50 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than non-Latino whites[1], but they are less likely to pursue treatment for the disease, resulting in poor health outcomes and lack of access to medical resources.