Businesses in Tampa prepare for GOP

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TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Some businesses in Tampa, Fla., are trying to capitalize on the Republican convention with services to allow other businesses to have employees work from home.

Experts warn that the influx of delegates, protesters and news media for the convention, which runs from Aug. 27 through Aug. 30 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, will make getting into and out of downtown difficult, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The Downtown Tampa Association says there are more than 300 businesses in the area with 50,000 employees.

Bill deMeza, a lawyer for Holland and Knight in Tampa, is a consultant to businesses figuring out how to deal with the convention. One option is having employees work from home that week.

"If they are going to telecommute, now is the time to get the hardware in place," deMeza said.

Michael English, an urban planner with Tindale-Oliver and Associates, said his company has decided to shut down the office that week. Instead, everyone will work at home.

"We had to make a plan and this seemed to be the most prudent one," English said.