Economic Development

The historic Tampa Theater now has a new micro-screening room offering patrons an intimate setting for viewing, for up to 43 people. The $2.9 million project, overseen by Creative Contractors and completed this month, includes restoration to the theater’s 1,260 square-foot lobby and auditorium area and the screening room, which also includes two wheelchair accessible

Visit Tampa Bay has recognized 11 Tampa Bay area hospitality industry professionals for their roles in promoting tourism in the region and ensuring a positive visitor experience. The industry leaders were honored at the group’s National Travel and Tourism Awards lunch, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, in late May. Included among honorees

Metropolitan Ministries is seeking community support for families facing homelessness or other dire situations as housing and other costs continue to rise.  The organization, which serves those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, has provided more than $1.2 million in assistance to those in need over the past 11 months, and expects

The National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Tampa Bay Latin Chamber of Commerce to strengthen the small business ecosystem across Tampa, Central Florida and Puerto Rico. Together, the chambers will organize regular networking events, workshops and seminars. The events will focus on regional challenges and opportunities, covering topics such as cross-regional

The Tampa Bay Partnership has received $250,000 from JPMorgan Chase to measure the depth of the regional housing crisis. The two-year investment will support research, and reporting, on housing affordability needs in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, over the next five years. More specifically, the research will: • Measure the available housing stock today and

Tampa Bay’s business heavy hitters packed into the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa to hear the annual update from the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. The theme this year: Driven. (See photos of the event below) Among the wins the EDC shared were the start of its three-year strategic plan, new partnerships, like

Michael D. Swesey has been named president and chief executive officer of the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation. Swesey has more than 30 years of economic development experience. He previously held a variety of roles at the Greater Des Moines Partnership in Des Moines, Iowa, most recently as executive vice president. He has led

The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council was honored with the International Economic Development Council’s Gold Economic Development Organization of the Year Excellence Award for 2023, in the large market category (population greater than 500,000). The award was announced at the IEDC’s Annual Conference, in Dallas, which recognizes economic development organizations that have demonstrated evidence of

Collaboration is brought up a lot when speaking to various economic development entities, either the lack thereof or the presence of it, and its benefits.  So what happens when two leaders of economic development entities, across a bay from one another, become friends and work together to benefit their respective communities? A lot of progress.

The Tampa Bay Partnership is working to raise community awareness of a community survey regarding the potential for a regional Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Sun Coast Transportation Planning Alliance has created a five-minute community survey to obtain feedback from residents from Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. Maximum engagement in the Community Survey is critical to

Dupré Logistics, a Louisiana-based transportation company, has acquired Interstate Transport, a logistics company based in St. Petersburg. Dupré Logistics is a privately held transportation company that provides logistics solutions through its three business divisions, Onsite and Private Fleet Services, Strategic Capacity Brokerage Services and Energy Distribution Services. Interstate Transport, which has been in business for

The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County has named Erin Silk as president and chief executive officer. Silk officially assumed the role on June 15. Lisa Krouse, who led the agency since August 2021, has retired. In the fall of 2022, following a search for a new CEO, Silk was selected to succeed Krouse by