Inside Tampa’s push to bring SEC Football Media Days to Florida

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SEC Football Media Days podium stands in front of a large SEC-branded backdrop featuring a blue football helmet at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street.

SEC Football Media Days began Monday in downtown Tampa, marking the first time the Southeastern Conference has held its annual football event in Florida. The four-day gathering is expected to draw roughly 1,200 to 1,400 people, including 900 to 1,000 reporters, the conference’s 16 head coaches, student-athletes, school staff and sponsors. Lanness Robinson, executive director … Read more

French beverage company picks Pasco for $111 million plant

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Four bottles of Pure by Monin beverage flavorings, including green apple, peach apricot, mint and red fruits, displayed on a wooden table with fresh fruit.

French beverage company Monin has selected Pasco County for a manufacturing and distribution facility, which is expected to cost more than $111 million, after evaluating 10 sites across four states. Monin plans to purchase 70 acres in the Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park and hire more than 100 employees during the project’s first phase. The company … Read more

Former Tampa strip mall converted into affordable housing

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Exterior view of Mercy Oaks II affordable apartment community in Tampa, converted from a former commercial property.

Seventeen affordable apartments opened Wednesday along North Florida Avenue after a former strip commercial center was redeveloped into permanent housing for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Mercy Oaks II includes 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments. The City of Tampa contributed $1.25 million in State Housing Initiatives Partnership funds to … Read more

Downtown Clearwater lands first restaurant from Michelin-starred hospitality group

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Rendering of the restored Telephone Building with Rippers on the ground floor in downtown Clearwater.

The restored Telephone Building in downtown Clearwater has landed its first restaurant tenant, with the hospitality group behind Michelin-starred Rocca bringing its first Clearwater concept to Cleveland Street. Called Rippers, the restaurant will occupy the building’s ground floor and serve deep-fried “ripper” hot dogs, burgers, chicken wings, sandwiches, fries and handcrafted milkshakes. It also marks … Read more