In The News

Investors Buy Tampa Bay Homes To Use As Rentals

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The mobility of Florida's workforce attracts all kinds of investors and the latest trend shows big-name investors from out of state spending billions of dollars on thousands of homes to turn them into rental properties.

The Tampa Bay Times takes a look at the extraordinary number of sales and what it means for access to housing in the Tampa Bay region.

Read the complete story.

New Growth Emerges In Pinellas Beach Towns

The Tampa Tribune Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Developers and residents of Pinellas County beach towns have long clashed over how growth should take shape, but disagreements may be lessening as both become more sensitive to each other's perspectives and value.

The new economy is attracting tourists back in droves and cities looking for part of that economic boost are finding ways to accommodate growth without turning their backs on the natural environment.

Read the complete story.

Planning For Improved Highway Safety, Tampa Bay

The Tampa Tribune Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The Metropolitan Planning Organization examines the most crash-prone intersections and worst traffic congestion in the Tampa Bay region to plot strategy on making roads and highways safer.

A study makes recommendations like adding turn lanes and intentionally slowing traffic.

Read the complete story.

Editorial: Time For Transit Merger, Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Hillsborough and Pinellas taxpayers and transit users stand to gain by combining public transportation systems in both west central Florida counties.

The Tampa Times editorializes for a merger.

Read the complete editorial.

Tampa-St. Pete Grows Talent, Attracts Smart People

New Geography Tuesday, August 21, 2012

If it's true that smart people flock to places that attract other smart people, the Tampa Bay region may be the next hot place for the college-educated to call home.

In Tampa-St. Petersburg, the share of the population that's college-educated grew from 21.7 percent to 26.2 percent, a gain of 21 percent. This is roughly twice the increase in the Washington, San Francisco and Seattle metropolitan areas.

Read the complete story.

Done Deal: Progress Energy-Duke Energy Merge

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The long-in-the-making merger of Progress Energy of St. Petersburg and North Carolina-based Duke Energy is finally complete.

The $31 billion deal creates the largest power provider in the U.S, with more than 7 million customers in six states.

Read the complete story.

Florida Banks Rebounding, Making More Money

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, June 19, 2012

The banking industry in Florida is finally rebounding after the financial plunge of recent years following the collapse of the real estate market.

Profits are up. Bank failures are down. Stability is becoming the catchword for describing a more dependable lending environment.

Read the complete story.

William Dean Chocolates Play Role In Hit Movie, Largo

Bay News 9 Tuesday, April 03, 2012

William Dean Chocolates of Largo is the setting for a key scene in the box office smash movie, "The Hunger Games.''

The fancy chocolatier shop makes distinctive rich candies often ordered for parties and special occasions.

Watch the complete story.

Creative Pinellas Emerges From Former Arts Council

Examiner Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Pinellas County launches Creative Pinellas in an effort to help showcase the arts and their impact on the local economy.

The goal is to better communicate the economic impact of arts and culture while attracting private investment and tourism to the local scene.

Read the complete story.

Tampa Bay Times Picks Top 50 Restaurants

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Food critic Laura Reiley shares her picks for the Tampa Bay region's top 50 restaurants.

The Tampa Bay Times writer selects three restaurants each from more than 25 different neighborhoods.

Her list includes a diverse selection of eateries ranging from Clearwater's Cafe Ponte to downtown Tampa's Bamboozle Cafe to James Beard nominee The Refinery.

Check out the complete list.

Florida Launches Statewide Art Initiative In Tampa

The Tampa Tribune Tuesday, November 01, 2011

An initiative to promote cultural programs in Florida was recently launched at the Straz Center in downtown Tampa.

Secretary of State Kurt Browning says the initiative, dubbed Culture Builds Florida, "will aim to promote the ways art and culture create jobs, stimulate the economy and contribute to Florida's tourism," according to The Tampa Tribune.

Arts sustain 88,000 jobs statewide and bring in $3 billion a year, according to Browning.

Read the complete story.

Fastest-Growing U.S. Companies? 68 In Tampa Bay

St. Petersburg Times Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Inc. Magazine's 2011 ranking of the fastest-growing companies in the nation recognized 68 Tampa Bay area companies for impressive 3-year revenue growth.

Among those companies are St. Petersburg's Crystal Clear Technologies at #5, Clearwater's AutoLoop at #71, Brooksville-based manufacturer AME International at #637 and Largo-based Atomic Tattoos at #3,051.

Crystal Clear Technologies ranking makes it the fastest-growing company in Government Services, woman-owned businesses and in the Tampa Bay region overall.

Check out the full list of companies on Inc. Magazine's 500/5000 list.

Read the complete story.

Trend: Tampa Bay's Best Companies For Workers

Florida Trend Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Tampa Bay area workplaces were recently honored in a ranking of Florida's Best Companies To Work For 2011.

Florida Trend selected four Tampa Bay area-based workplaces for its Best Large Companies including FCCI Insurance Group in Sarasota at #8, Tampa's Mayer Electric Supply at #17 and HSA Engineers & Scientists at #25. JSA Healthcare in St. Petersburg was ranked at #20.

Best Midsized Companies included Tampa's WilsonHCG at #1, Veredus at #5, Trenam Kemker at #8 and Banker Lopez Gassler at #28. St. Petersburg-based Modern Business Associates was ranked at #20 and American Strategic Insurance came in at #23. LexJet in Sarasota ranked #26 and Bartow's A.C.T Environmental & Infrastructure was #27.

Among Best Small Companies, Tampa's ChappellRoberts, Fintech, AgileThought and eBridge Solutions were ranked at 4, 6, 10 and 15 respectively. Largo's TheMediaCrew received a ranking of #20 and Clearwater's FMS Purchasing & Services was ranked at #25.

Read the complete list here.

Microgrants Encourage Grassroots Arts, Tampa

Creative Loafing Tampa Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Tampa Bay arts entrepreneur T. Hampton Dohrman has unveiled his latest endeavor: Think Small to Think Big Arts Microgrant Program.

The program will award up to four $500 grants a month, starting in July, to artists who propose public events in Hillsborough or Pinellas County, according to Creative Loafing Tampa.

Applications for the first round of grants are due June 1.

Read the complete story.

WaterPlay Touts Tampa Bay As Top Destination

Waterplay USA Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Visit Tampa Bay is hoping its partnership with a popular tourism website will give the local economy a boost in the winter months.

The Tampa Bay area is currently a featured destination on WaterPlay USA, a travel website based out of North Carolina.

Praised for its beaches, wildlife, landscape, athletic facilities, entertainment, arts and dining, WaterPlay encourages its visitors to see everything the Tampa Bay region has to offer.

Read the complete story.

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