Main Navigation
Sections
Social Media Connect
Tampa Bay Business and Wealth Magazine
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth

Hillsborough County is the heart of Tampa Bay’s economic and cultural growth, home to leading businesses, innovative startups and community changemakers shaping the region’s future. Explore the latest business news, investments, development projects and people driving progress across Tampa, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and beyond.

Hillsborough County

A view of downtown Tampa along the river with an inset photo of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell adjusting his glasses.
Collage showing the new Murphy Health and Wellness Center at Academy of the Holy Names with renderings of the restored chapel, second floor terrace, and upgraded athletic locker room.
Exterior view of Luxe at 1820 apartment buildings in Brandon with palm trees in front, alongside inset images showing the community’s resort-style pool and a modern clubhouse interior.

More Hillsborough County

An iconic Davis Islands building is being rebuilt for its next 100 years
 |  Chuck Merlis

The Mirasol is returning as a restored boutique hotel and waterfront residence that brings new life and new investment to Davis Islands.

Read More
Rendering of the restored Hotel Mirasol on Davis Islands at dusk, showing its Mediterranean Revival architecture with arched windows, palm trees, and guests at the entrance. An inset site plan highlights the redesigned waterfront layout, including new residences, hotel suites, pool area, gardens, and marina access.
The man behind Water Street breaks down Gasworx
 |  Chuck Merlis

Gasworx is turning a long-ignored part of Tampa into a walkable district that connects Ybor City with downtown.

Read More
Aerial view of the Gasworx construction site with cranes, new buildings and downtown Tampa in the distance.
Iowa and Vanderbilt head to Tampa for ReliaQuest Bowl
 |  Chuck Merlis

Iowa and Vanderbilt will meet in Tampa on New Year’s Eve for a ReliaQuest Bowl matchup that brings national interest and strong economic impact.

Read More
ReliaQuest Bowl logo displayed over Raymond James Stadium with the phrase Football in Paradise.
National firm opens South Tampa innovation center with full test kitchen
 |  Chuck Merlis

A national consumer goods firm has opened a new South Tampa innovation and experience center with a full test kitchen for real world product testing.

Read More
A collage of four images showing the opening of a new innovation and experience center in South Tampa. The first image shows a ribbon cutting with executives standing in a row inside the facility. The second image shows product displays with kitchenware and housewares on modern shelving. The third image shows an open workspace with glass meeting rooms and product shelves. The fourth image shows a chef preparing food inside the center’s full test kitchen.
New platform links Tampa Bay donors to nonprofits losing funding
 |  Chuck Merlis

Nonprofits across Tampa Bay are facing a squeeze. Federal programs are cutting grants. State budgets are tightening. Hillsborough County is preparing to phase out many recurring local grants. At the

Read More
Charity Bridge Fund logo featuring three stylized bridge arches in blue, orange and light blue above the organization’s name.
Darryl Shaw sells 2 Ybor properties for $7.45M near Gasworx
 |  Chuck Merlis

Two Ybor properties sold for $7.45M as investor interest accelerates near Gasworx.

Read More
Three views of Ybor City development: the Pete’s Bagels building on 4th Avenue, a historic mixed-use building on 6th Avenue, and the nearby Gasworx construction site linking Ybor to downtown Tampa.
How a 2nd-gen entrepreneur revived his family’s Tampa liquor stores
 |  Chuck Merlis

Trey Lawson returned to Tampa to rebrand his family stores, grow Liquor Depot and build a community movement around bourbon and the $20 buzz.

Read More
Trey Lawson stands inside Liquor Depot next to a whiskey barrel.
324-unit luxury community planned for Brandon
 |  Chuck Merlis

A new 324-unit luxury community is coming to the Brandon submarket as Carter expands its multifamily footprint across Tampa Bay.

Read More
Aerial rendering of Prospect Highland Oaks, a planned 324-unit luxury apartment community in the Brandon submarket, featuring lake views, landscaped walking paths and modern four-story residential buildings.
UTampa moves ahead with new riverfront science building
 |  Chuck Merlis

UTampa is moving ahead with a new riverfront science building that will replace older campus facilities and add modern labs and teaching space.

Read More
Street side view of the new UTampa science building with red brick and large windows.
6 story luxury student housing project breaks ground near USF
 |  Chuck Merlis

A major student housing project is now underway near USF, bringing new units, modern amenities and fresh investment to North Tampa.

Read More
A six story modern student housing building with large windows, balconies and palm trees along the street, shown in a daytime architectural rendering. Cars, pedestrians and landscaping line the front of the property.
USF eyes 2027 launch for new real estate master’s program
 |  Chuck Merlis

The University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business is expanding its real estate offerings with new graduate concentrations and a proposed Master of Science in Real Estate that could

Read More
University of South Florida entrance sign with the USF Bulls logo on a brick and white monument surrounded by landscaping.
Tampa CEO talks about leadership, growth and purpose
 |  Chuck Merlis

Ashley Butler talks about leadership growth purpose and community impact during TBBW’s November CEO Connect.

Read More
Guests gather at Aqua at Westshore Yacht Club during TBBW’s CEO Connect event with Ashley Butler.