 |
Kobie Marketing expands corporate headquarters, adding 255 jobs
Last week, Kobie Marketing announced the expansion of its corporate headquarters in downtown St. Petersburg with plans to hire 255 employees over the next few years. Kobie, a global leader in fully-integrated customer loyalty marketing and customer retention agency, currently has nearly 200 full time employees. The company is headquartered in over 30,000 SF on two floors of the City Center building at 100 2nd Avenue South. They will be leasing additional office space at the Ceridian building in the Skyway Marina District to accommodate their expansion.
"We look forward to the collaboration and support of the city, county and state as we continue to attract and retain some of the best and brightest resources in the country. Kobie has been headquartered in beautiful downtown St. Petersburg since 1990. I am pleased to announce our plans to expand our Kobie footprint within the community that we've called home for more than 25 years," said Ashby Green, CFO.
"Kobie Marketing, headquartered in downtown St. Pete, illustrates the story of what's happening in the new St. Petersburg," said Mayor Rick Kriseman. "This dynamic, award-winning marketing company is thriving here, expanding rapidly and attracting new talented employees to our city. The company, and its employees, are engaged in giving back to our community through their philanthropic endeavors. We're glad they call St. Petersburg home."
Governor Rick Scott was at Kobie's office for the expansion announcement as part of his "Million, Billion Jobs Victory Tour." |
Skyway Marina District receiving improvements this year, boosting image
The Skyway Marina District will be seeing many improvements in the coming months, including a newly rebuilt Publix in the Bay Pointe Plaza shopping center at 54th Avenue and 34th Street South set to open in December. This summer, Maximo Marina will begin multimillion-dollar renovations and Bay Pointe Plaza will be transformed with a new facade.
Gateway signage is coming this year to three prominent locations identified along 34th Street South in the Skyway Marina District Plan. Each gateway sign is expected to cost $120,000 to install and will be funded by the city. Along with gateway signage, new landscaping will be installed in all 11 existing medians along 34th Street South from 54th Avenue South to 30th Avenue South through the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) highway beautification program. The cost of the work is estimated to be $350,000-$400,000. The new landscaping will feature drought tolerant, sustainable plant selections in keeping with Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles.
In 2016 and 2017, new LED Lighting will be installed throughout the Skyway Marina District. The new lighting will include sustainable lighting fixtures chosen by the city and the Skyway Marina District Arts & Design Committee to reflect the contemporary marina style identified in the Skyway Marina District Plan. |
Overpass lighting project coming to 22nd Street South
A proposed plan for improvements under and around the I-275 overpass at 22nd Street South is under consideration. The proposal, estimated to cost $509,000, includes artwork, landscaping, and lighting designs. The Deuces Live, the Florida Main Street group for the 22nd Street South corridor, helped drive the idea for the concept as a way to elevate the area and surrounding businesses.
"One of the main focuses we have had is, 'In what ways can we improve how the area looks,'" said Veatrice Farrell, Deuces Live Program Manager. In recent years, new businesses have come to the area, on both sides of interstate, and this type of project will help further the area's renaissance.
The final design is expected to be completed in by May and will require final approval from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
Photo credit: Tampa Bay Times
|
Vinoy Hotel to receive multimillion dollar renovation soon
The historic Vinoy Renaissance Resort and Golf Club will be receiving multimillion dollar renovations to enhance the beautiful retreat on the city's waterfront. The projects will begin in May and are anticipated to take two and half years to complete.
"I think the demographic of St. Petersburg is changing, as well as the demographic of the Vinoy Club. The timing is really perfect. I think that St. Petersburg as a destination is really blossoming," said Barbara Readey, general manager of the Vinoy Renaissance Resort and Golf Club.
Renovations will begin at the Vinoy Club at 600 Snell Isle Blvd NE with new clubhouse amenities, a redesigned, larger swimming pool, cabana lounges, fire pits, and a new splash pad. At the Vinoy itself, located at 501 5th Avenue NE, plans include new Har-Tru green clay tennis courts, new tennis pro shop, expanded fitness center and enhanced spa facilities. Alfresco's restaurant will be replaced with a new dining concept and additional covered parking will be built.
"We are always looking to focus on the needs of the customer of today and the next generation traveler, so we want to have products and services that are relevant to the millennials while being true to our historic nature," Readey said.
|
Port St. Pete is "Marina of the Month"!
Port St. Pete was named "Marina of the Month" for March 2016 in the high-end yachting publication, ShowBoats International. Check out the excerpt on Port St. Pete, described as "a place to call home on Florida's West Coast." |
Cobb Luxury 10 Theatre to open in April at Tyrone Square Mall
Cobb Tyrone Luxury 10 Theatre will open in mid-April at Tyrone Square Mall. The 10-screen, 50,000 SF building was built in the mall's northwest parking area as a free-standing structure facing Tyrone Blvd. The theater holds 1,200 seats and invites customers to dine while watching movies in oversized, reclining seats.
"Cobb Luxury 10 will fit seamlessly with our center's dynamic lineup of retailers as it offers guests a sophisticated movie experience," said Shannon Brzuchalski, marketing director for Tyrone Square Mall.
"We noticed there's a demand from customers for a new kind of movie viewing experience. So at Cobb Theatres, we're moving away from the traditional theater type and opening only ones like the luxury theater and CineBistro models," explained Guy Austin, VP of operations for Cobb. Cobb Theatres, based in Birmingham, Alabama, operates 23 movies theaters across the United States, including the upscale CineBistro in Tampa's Hyde Park Village. |
Growing tourism industry prompts St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport expansion
Pinellas County commissioners approved an $9.8 million construction project to expand a passenger terminal, upgrade concessions and restrooms, and add security checkpoints to expedite travel time at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. Construction will begin in April and is expected to be completed by summer 2017.
The airport has seen record number of passengers in recent months. In 2015, the airport served 1.65 million passengers - about 30% more than its previous one-year record of 1.3 million in 2004. Pinellas County drew over 6 million tourists in 2015 and for the first time passed $40 million in tax collections on hotel rooms. Bed tax collections have increased nearly 60% in the past 5 years, according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. |
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.
|
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]. |
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Annie's Beauty Supply, 920 22nd Street South, this Friday at 11 am!
|
Upcoming Events
|
March 29, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Pinellas County Economic Development
The Epi-Center, 13805 58th Street North, Suite 1-200, Clearwater 33760
April 3, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Tropicana Field
EDGE Office, 900 block of Central Ave
April 13
TPepin's Hospitality Center, 4121 N 50th Street, Tampa 33610
Port Food Truck Rally
April 15, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Port St. Pete
April 28 to May 1
Downtown St. Petersburg
May 6, 7:30 am - 10:00 am
Port Tampa Bay, Cruise Terminal 2, 651 Channelside Drive, Tampa
May 9-10
Hilton Carillon Park, 950 Lake Carillon Drive, 33716
Special note:
|
|
Have a development update, project announcement, or success
story to share?
Contact Briana Ozor, 727.893.7784.
|
|
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)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
