⊲ The Postcard Inn on St. Pete Beach has released plans for a major renovation and expansion including the construction of a new five-story 87-room hotel on the property. (Rendering above)
⊲ Mayor Ken Welch named Reverend Kenneth Irby, senior pastor at the Historic Beth AME Church, as St. Petersburg’s new faith and community justice liaison and former City Councilmember Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, as the new community impact and safety liaison.
⊲ Hope Villages of America, a Clearwater nonprofit organization, appointed Pinellas Park Chief of Police Adam Geissenberger to its Board of Directors.
⊲ Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) announced twelve new, nonstop routes to popular vacation destinations, starting in Spring 2024, with the new flights expanding the airline’s network options in 22 cities around the country.
⊲ An online platform developed by researchers at the University of South Florida, in St. Petersburg, in close collaboration with anti-trafficking professionals and survivors, will help victims of human trafficking escape their situations and get back on their feet by streamlining efforts to connect them with organizations and resources in Tampa Bay.
⊲ An athletic facilities and fields at a Pinellas Park youth sports center will be completely removed and a new, upgraded sports campus will take its place, at 4100 66th Avenue North located just off U.S. Highway 19 and Interstate 275.
⊲ Based in St. Petersburg, Velera – formerly PSCU/Co-op Solutions, a payments credit union service organization and an integrated financial technology solutions provider – has been named a winner of Glassdoor’s inaugural award for Best-Led Companies 2024 in the United States.
⊲ The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, Autograph Collection named Chris Major as the new golf and club operations general manager.
⊲ An evaluation committee, comprised of St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay Rays officials, selected Apopka-based Finrock to design and build two parking garages for a new $1.3 billion ballpark.
⊲ Local developer Jeff Craft, with Tampa Bay City Living, has cleared multiple parcels near St. Pete’s EDGE District for his latest project, an eight-unit townhome complex, at 364 14th Street North.
⊲ Daystar Life Center, a nonprofit organization in South St. Petersburg that offers a healthy food pantry and financial assistance, collected more than 1,000 lbs. of non-perishable food items, at an inaugural event.
⊲ PODS Enterprises, based in Clearwater, has been recognized as one of America’s Customer Service Champions 2024 by USA TODAY and Plant-A Insights Group.
⊲ St. Petersburg-based Raymond James Associates added to its team including Emmanuel Lelekis, Sharon Ellis-Champagne, Brian Kilczewski and Chadd Eaton, previously with Wells Fargo Advisors.
⊲ Distinctive Living, a New Jersey-based senior living management firm and developer, acquired Ivy Ridge, a St. Petersburg facility dedicated to elderly residents with memory-related issues.
⊲ Visit St. Pete-Clearwater appointed Kathryn Reagan as the organization’s vice president of business development.
⊲ St. Petersburg city council has approved a $1.6 million construction proposal to replace aging and eroding seawalls in the city.
⊲ Ellison Development began leasing space in Halycon, a 12-story building in The Central – formerly known as Orange Station – in St. Petersburg.
⊲ The owners of downtown St. Petersburg’s Brick & Mortar restaurant opened a new concept, in the city’s Grand Central District, Pulpo Kitchen + Lounge, at 2147 Central Ave.
⊲ Pinellas County launched a new program, called Care About Me, which provides a confidential access line for Pinellas County residents, of all ages, who need help finding appointments for mental health, substance use and/or addiction services.
⊲ Neptune Flood, in St. Petersburg, promoted Matt Duffy to managing director and chief risk officer.