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2016 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg returns this weekend!
The 2016 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is this weekend - March 11th through 13th - along our downtown waterfront. Now in its 12th year, the Grand Prix runs on a 1.8-mile, 14-turn waterfront circuit on the streets of St. Petersburg. This year, drivers will get the green flag at approximately 12:52 pm on Sunday, March 13th and the race will be broadcast live on ABC.
Analysis of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg indicates a $40 million economic impact and $5 million in direct impact. This year's race is expected to draw approximately 150,000 fans, media, and participants. For more race information, visit the official website of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. |
City proposes to designate four Target Employment Centers
As an incentive to keep and attract high-skill, high-wage jobs in St. Petersburg, the city is proposing that the following four areas be designated Target Employment Centers:
- CSX Rail Corridor: generally located along the CSX corridor between 5th Avenue North and 40th Avenue North.
- Gateway Area: generally located north of Gandy Blvd and 94th Avenue North, south of Ulmerton Road, east of 28th Street North and west of 4th Street North and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North.
- South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA): a portion of the CRA generally located between I-275 and 49th Street South, along a corridor defined by Fairfield Avenue South, 7th Avenue South, and the Pinellas Trail.
- Tyrone Industrial Park: generally located north of 13th Avenue North and south of Tyrone Blvd, along the Pinellas Trail and 72nd Street North.
Specifically, these areas will be designated Target Employment Center (TEC) with an overlay on the city's Future Land Use Map. The associated zoning district regulations have already been amended to allow up to a
100% intensity (floor-area-ratio) bonus for manufacturing, office, laboratory, and research and development uses in these areas.
St. Petersburg is the first municipality in Pinellas County to initiate the designation. The first public hearing was conducted by the
Community Planning and Preservation Commission on February 9th, 2016 and the vote was unanimous to recommend approval to
City Council, which will conduct public hearings on
March 17th and May 19th at 6:00 pm.
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Request for Qualifications for Development Master Plan Consultant for Tropicana Field Property
The City of St. Petersburg is requesting Statements of Qualifications from firms or individuals interested in performing site development master planning services for the redevelopment of the 85-acre Tropicana Field Property. Written Proposals will be accepted by the city at the Planning and Economic Development Department, 8th Floor, Municipal Services Center, One 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 until 4:00 pm, March 25, 2016.
Detailed information to be submitted with a Statement of Qualifications are available by e-mail from Vicky Davidson, Administrative Assistant, Planning and Economic Development Department, at [email protected] or by calling 727-893-7871. |
Duke Energy Florida reduces rates for the second time in 2016
Duke Energy Florida announced they will be reducing rates, for the second time this year, effective in April. Depending on a number of factors including rate class and type of service, a typical commercial customer will see as much as an 8% reduction. Industrial customers will see a 6 to 11% reduction.
"After this price drop, our customers will be paying about 21% less for electricity than they were in January 2009...We continue to seek innovative approaches to provide the best possible price while we invest in affordable, clean energy and improve reliability for our customers every day," said Alex Glenn, Duke Energy Florida president.
In addition to this year's rate decreases, projects may qualify for Duke Energy's Florida Economic Development Rider rate which would further decrease the rate over a five year period. |
Bike share program moves closer towards implementation
The city's bike share program is moving closer to becoming a reality. City Council voted in support of Mayor Kriseman's $1.5 million bike share proposal at their meeting in late February. The city is in negotiations with CycleHop, which runs Tampa's program, and City Council should take a final vote in April. The program will start with 300 bikes dispersed among 30 stations primarily in downtown and along Central Avenue.
Photo credit: Tampa Bay Times
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Gandy road construction project ahead of schedule
The Gandy Boulevard overpass project that should ease congestion on Gandy at 4th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Streets North is in the last year of construction, ahead of schedule. The $87.3 million Florida Department of Transportation project is expected to open in spring 2017, providing immediate traffic relief to the area while also fitting into the DOT's regional transportation plan - the $3.3 billion Tampa Bay Expressway project.
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Tall Ship Lynx returns to the Harborage in celebration of mega yacht slips completion
The opening of the mega yacht slips is the completion point of a $4 million renovation of the Harborage Marina. It now hosts the only dedicated full service mega yacht slips capable of multiple yachts up to 250 feet on the west coast of Florida. This marks the beginning of a new era for St. Petersburg, making it a premier destination for mega yachts.
The concrete floating docks manufactured by St. Petersburg's own Marinetek NA are designed for convenience to their yachts owners, guests, and crews. They are individually equipped with mega yacht specific dockside water, power, and sewage capabilities.
In celebration of the completion of these docks, the ownership has invited the Tall Ship Lynx back to St. Petersburg for the week of March 15th through 22nd. They also have become the name sponsor of the St. Petersburg Museum of History's newest exhibition. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new mega yacht slips will be held at the Harborage on Friday, March 18th at 10:30 am.
Photo credit: Tampa Bay Times
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2016 Individual Artist Grant Program
The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance with the City of St. Petersburg's Office of Cultural Affairs established an Individual Artist Grant Program to provide financial assistance to resident artists for projects that support public engagement of their work in the Visual Arts, Dance, Music, and Theater disciplines.
Grant deadline is March 30, 2016. The artists will begin their artful projects in June. The grant panel is comprised of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance members.
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State of the Arts in St. Petersburg: Economic Impact and Social Networks, March 23rd
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Are you interested in a business visit?
As part of the city's new business outreach program, Economic Development staff are meeting with local businesses to help them grow. Any business interested in a visit should contact Sophia Sorolis, Economic Development Manager, at 727-893-7787 or [email protected]. |
Upcoming Events
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March 11-13
Downtown St. Petersburg
March 15, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
USFSP Student Center Ballroom, 200 6th Avenue South
USFSP, 140 7th Avenue South
The Greenhouse, 440 2nd Avenue North
March 23, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Miller Auditorium on Eckerd College campus, 4200 54th Avenue South
Tropicana Field
EDGE Office, 900 block of Central Ave
Special note:
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Have a development update, project announcement, or success
story to share?
Contact Briana Ozor, 727.893.7784.
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City of St. Petersburg
Economic Development Division
P.O. Box 2842
St. Petersburg, FL 33731
800.874.9026 (toll free)
727.893.7100 (phone)
727.892.5465 (fax)
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