Tampa Bay Business Journal: November 30, 2012

TAMPA - In this week's Tampa Bay Business Journal segment, editor Alexis Muellner discusses the economic impact of healthcare reform on businesses, mobile payment options and the rebranding of Manatee County.

With the re-election of President Obama earlier this month, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will remain the law of the land. The vast reform is already impacting businesses.

Companies have 13 months to determine which employees must be offered health insurance, or decide whether to offer a plan at all. Human resources staff members, accountants and lawyers are helping companies understand their needs with regards to the law.

Many small businesses are exploring mobile payment options to save money. Since August Kaleisia Tea Lounge in Tampa has used iPhones and iPads to process transactions.

While the loss of an internet connection or an equipment glitch can cause the system to freeze and force employees to use pen and paper to carry out transactions, business owners are seeing the upside on their bottom dollar.

The Manatee Economic Development Corporation is morphing into the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation.

The name change will be rolled out early next year. The rebranding is hoped to reinforce Bradenton as the center of business in the county and make consistent in the place name used for tourism and economic development outreach in Manatee County.

For more information on these stories, click on the video player on the left, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xi9ZdoVHaM or pick up this week's Tampa Bay Business Journal available on newsstands.