Page 611 – 83 Degrees Media

St. Pete Gets New Trek Bicycle Shop

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September 7, 2010

Get ready, 4th Street. There's a new cycle shop in town. And it's not just any cycle shop. It's one of only 80 in the country. Trek Bicycle Shop of St. Petersburg is opening at 3169 4th Street N., and according to owner Rick Fidanzato, it's a real honor to own a Trek shop. "They're not franchised but there is a lot of prestige in owning a Trek corporation shop. I had to go through the whole interview process, credit review, budget and business plan. It was pretty intense."Fidanzato also owns ABC Bicycles at 6633 Central Ave. He says it's always been his goal to own two stores in St. Pete. "Eventually I wanted to have two stores since this is a very west-side; east-side kind of town. Plus ABC has been around for 50 years and I bought that business from the original owner. I've kind of always wanted to start my own from scratch."A sense of community and inclusion is central to Fidanzato's business vision. "The main people who ride bicycles aren't the avid racers as much as those who ride once a week with their kids. We want to service everybody and not to alienate anyone. People view 'cyclists' as an elite group but we're all bicycle riders." Fidanzato is encouraged by the strides St. Petersburg has made toward alternative and public transportation. "Only 1 percent of trips are made by bike, and 60 percent are within 2 miles of your home," says Fidanzato. "It's just a matter of changing your habits. And it translates to supporting your neighborhood businesses. You discover what's in your own backyard."Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Rick Fidanzato, Trek Bicycle Shop of St. Petersburg

Studies Underway For Proposed Tampa Bay Ferry

By Missy Kavanaugh

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Economic Development

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September 7, 2010

What if Tampa, like Seattle, had ferry service across its waterway?That's what officials from the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) are wondering. They've hired Jacobs Engineering and Cambridge Systematics to conduct preliminary studies to explore the possibility of a circular ferry route across Tampa Bay."It's a feasibility study to see if water transit is something we could pursue," explains Randy Kranjec of the Hillsborough County MPO . "Consultants will come back after this first phase to determine whether water transit is viable."According to Cambridge Systematics' Michael Williamson, initial stakeholder input suggests a water ferry service would be a viable option for commuting purposes as well as recreational and tourism-related activities. A connection between downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg is one of the more favorable routes.. Factors still to be considered include water depth, speed restrictions and vessel characteristics (capacity, speed, amenities). Other connections being considered include Westshore, MacDill AFB, Safety Harbor/Oldsmar, Fort DeSoto and Gibsonton/Apollo Beach.The idea for ferry service has been debated for several years and is included in the Master Plan developed by the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA). Investigations began as early as 2003. In 2008 Hillsborough County received federal funds to conduct a feasibility study and later that year the Urban Charrette hosted a Design Charrette on behalf of the Tampa Downtown Partnership that explored the logistics of water taxi service across Tampa Bay. According to Williamson, next steps will focus on estimating potential ridership demand for select routes, further consideration of station locations and vessel technologies, and development of findings and recommendations to guide the next phase.Writer: Missy KavanaughSources: Randy Kranjec, Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization; Michael Williamson, Cambridge Systematics

Tampa Bay Farmers Markets Re-Open For Fall, Winter Seasons

By Missy Kavanaugh

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Arts

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September 7, 2010

With autumn upon us, farmers markets across the Tampa Bay region are readying to share the harvest. It seems nearly every municipality has at least one. A few are new, and a few have made some changes. Here's a thumbnail sketch:Realize Bradenton hosts a farmers market downtown on Old Main Street between Manatee Avenue and 4th Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday from October to May."We have built a community of vendors, residents, businesses, and most importantly, a community of dogs," says Johnette Isham, Realize Bradenton's executive director. "We have live music every Saturday. The first Saturday features a chef demo, the second raffles and prizes, on the third Saturday we join with Mainly Arts, showcasing artists and craftspeople and featuring art from a Manatee County elementary school. On the last Saturday of the month we do kids' activities."Isham says the market has generated foot traffic and revenue for Bradenton businesses since it opened a little over a year ago. "Ninety thousand people came downtown last year," she says. half of them for the farmers market. Next year 135,000 are predicted, due to more events we've planned. That equals projected consumer spending of $3.1 million for 2010-11."Wesley Chapel is opening a new market at the The Shops at Wiregrass at the intersection of Bruce B. Downs and State Road 56 the first Saturday of every month starting in November. According to Tiffany Ferrecchia of Tampa Downtown Market, the Winegrass market will feature produce, plants and eco-friendly arts and crafts as well as products featured at existing Wiregrass stores and restaurants.Lizzy Lenk is a vendor who sells her Bag It Conscience products at several Tampa Bay markets. "I like going to the markets because it gives me an opportunity to talk to people and encourage them to do simple changes that can go a long way toward improving and changing the environment for the better," she says. "I find it a wonderful, creative, meaningful and fun way to earn my living. People absolutely love coming out. It gives them an opportunity to meet with friends and be outdoors. They can buy handmade, home-cooked or locally grown products. Many love not buying from the big corporations but supporting local crafters. We are fortunate that we have lots of these kinds of markets happening almost every day of the week. It brings life to the streets."Other area markets include St. Petersburg's mammoth Saturday Morning Market; Gulfport's Tuesday Morning Market; Clearwater's Open Air market, Dunedin's farmers market; Largo's Heritage Village and downtown markets, Tampa's downtown market, Ybor Market and Seminole Heights market; Parksdale Farm Market in Plant City; Brooksville's downtown market, Hernando Beach's Open Market; and Lakeland's Farmer's Curb Market and Farmer's and Flea Market.Writer: Missy KavanaughSources: Johnette Isham, Realize Bradenton; Lizzy Lenk, Bag It; Tiffany A. Ferrecchia, Tampa Downtown Market

Blake Hospital Plans To Add Trauma Center, Bradenton

By Missy Kavanaugh

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Economic Development

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September 7, 2010

Patients needing trauma care in Sarasota, Manatee or Desoto counties no longer need to travel to Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland or Lee County for treatment. Blake Medical Center in Bradenton is making plans to open its own trauma center soon, starting with the hiring of a new trauma director, Dr. Brian Kimbrell, in August."This will provide an extremely important and critical service to the community by reducing the amount of time and distance for an injured patient to receive definite care," says Kimbrell. "As our program develops, we'll see improved trauma outcomes and survival, as well as increased availability of specialists and resources for all patients."Kimbrell's appointment is the next step in the hospital's plans to develop a Level II Trauma Center. The hospital filed a letter of intent with the state on Sept. 30, 2009 and in early April 2010, filed an application with a request for an extension, which was granted. The hospital plans to file a completed application in early 2011 in hopes of being granted provisional trauma center status by October 2011. According to a county-by-county assessment report provided by Blake, Manatee has the 12th-highest mortality rate in the state. An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine in January, 2006, documents a 25 percent reduction in mortality rate for patients treated at trauma centers compared to care at non-trauma centers. Renovations to Blake's ER are underway to create two trauma bays. External traffic changes will begin soon as well. In addition, Blake recently hired Michelle Bryskiewicz, RN, as vice president of trauma services. Training of hospital personnel will continue to take place throughout the process.Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Dr. Brian Kimbrell, Blake Medical Center

2 Of Downtown Tampa’s Best-Known Office Buildings Reach Capacity

By Missy Kavanaugh

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Architecture

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September 7, 2010

Tampa's tallest and largest office buildings are at capacity.In August 2010, 100 North Tampa, the tallest at 589 feet, reached 100 percent capacity, while Bank of America Plaza, the largest at nearly 800,000 square feet and located at 101 E. Kennedy Blvd. recently reached 93 percent occupancy. Property experts credit downtown Tampa's amenities with its strong tenancies."All the buildings downtown are in close proximity to one another, forming a core," says Michael Hoffman, first vice president at CB Richard Ellis, which manages Bank of America Plaza. "It's easy to walk to lunch and you run into people with whom you want to do business. There's a synergy downtown that a lot of suburban offices don't enjoy."Phil Dinkins, vice president at CLW Real Estate Services Group, which manages 100 North Tampa, agrees. "Downtown Tampa's always been a desirable place, but over the years we've accumulated more features that make it even more desirable such as the performing arts center, the convention center on the waterfront, the aquarium, the St. Pete Times Forum, the history museum, art museum and children's museum. I think what we're seeing is that downtown is getting better and better.""Downtown has a very specific type of tenant who wants to be downtown," says Hoffman. "With the condos, which is relatively new to downtown Tampa, you've got people who now live here as well as work here.""The condos have made it a 24/7 city," says Dinkins. "The high-speed rail with the terminus center and light rail that we hope will be voted in in November—where does all this tie into? Downtown."Writer: Missy KavanaughSources: Phil Dinkins, 100 North Tampa; Michael Hoffman, Bank of America Plaza

15,000-Square-Feet Trampoline Park Springs Up In Carrollwood, Tampa

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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August 31, 2010

Indoor trampoline parks are a growing trend across the country, and the Tampa Bay region now has its second one.Airheads, the creation of business partners Steve Johnston and Rich Heruska, recently opened its doors just off Linebaugh Avenue in the Carrollwood neighborhood of Tampa.The 15,000-square-feet building includes 10,000 square feet of neon green and blue trampolines, providing an indoor space for families and fun-seeking individuals to release some energy.Airheads also includes an arcade, eatery and space for birthday parties.The other Tampa Bay trampoline center, Brandon's Boing! Jump Center, opened in March.Read the complete story.

USF, Mote Marine Awarded $2 M Grant For Sustainable Food Production

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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August 31, 2010

The U.S Commerce Department awarded Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota and the University of South Florida a $2 million grant to expand sustainable farm-raised fish research programs.Mote Aquaculture Research Park, with assistance from USF Connect's business development services, intends to create a model for commercial aquaculture that would allow the production of seafood to occur in any climate around the world.Read the complete story.

Five Tampa Bay Businesses Land In Top 500 Fastest-Growing Companies

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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August 31, 2010

A 2010 ranking of the Top 500/5000 fastest-growing companies in North America recognizes five companies in the Tampa Bay region within the Top 500. The September issue of Inc. Magazine unveils the 29th annual list. The five companies include Tampa-based energy and information service provider Archimedes Global (#77), Clearwater-based software provider eMason (#165), Tampa-based Medicare and Medicaid benefit administrators Freedom Health (#225), Tampa-based communication network experts Telovations (#213) and Largo-based marketing firm The Media Crew (#369). Companies that landed within the Top 5000 include: Clearwater-based companies Sunbelt Software (#3724), Monin (#4109), Arroyo Process Equipment (#4249) and PostcardMania (#4945). Largo-based companies Atomic Tattoos (#4275) and The Bare Board Group (#4329). New Port Richey-based Geo-Logical (#2506). Odessa-based The Launch Pad (#1419). Sarasota-based Clockwork Home Services (#2910) St. Petersburg-based companies Crystal Clear Technologies (#549), Interstate Transport (#1030), Kobie Marketing (#3171) and Excelsior Defense (#3907). Tampa-based companies Ideal Image (#555), Web Commerce Partners (#790), ScreeningONE (#793), IT Authorities (#801), Celestar (#909), Calhoun International (#993), Tribridge (#1103), Triad Digital Media (#1108), J2 Engineering (#1127), Hiregy (#1132), Laser Spine Institute (#1140), AgileThought (#1154), Acclaris (#1489), myMatrixx (#1509), College Hunks Hauling Junk (#1539), Applied Data (#1679), An Amazing Organization (#1693), T-Cellular (#1697), Infinity Business Systems (#1714), Health Integrated (#1948), ConnectWise (#2087), eBridge Solutions (#2093), Advanced MarketPlace (#2328), Convergence Consulting Group (#2668), Magnetic (#2713), MISource (#2789), i9 Sports (#3061), Accusoft Pegasus (#3442), eWinWin (#3701), Carlton Fields (#3739), Rent-n-Roll Custom Wheels and Tires (#4152), MarkMaster (#4651), Pilgrim Software (#4678), HSA Engineers & Scientists (#4767), and Rent a Coder (now vWorker) (#4877).Rankings are based on revenue growth from 2006 to 2009, according to Inc. Magazine. The state of Florida once again received a nationwide ranking of #5 -- pulling ahead of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Georgia, and Illinois -- with 262 companies inside the Top 5000. Scan the complete list.

Delta Announces Nonstop Flights Between Tampa, Cancun

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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August 31, 2010

Delta Air Lines announced plans to begin offering nonstop flights from Tampa to Cancun beginning Feb. 19, 2011. This is the sixth attempt by an airline to make a Tampa-Cancun connection, according to a recent article in The Tampa Tribune.Planes will seat 142 passengers and include 14 first-class seats.Read the complete story.

Florida Races Toward Education Reform With $700 M Grant

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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August 31, 2010

The U.S Department of Education recently announced Florida is one of nine states that will receive funding from the Obama administration's Race to the Top program. Florida, along with New York, will receive $700 million--the largest grants in the initiative for education reform. The remaining winners include Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio with $400 million each, Massachusetts and Maryland with $250 million each, and Rhode Island and the District of Columbia with $75 million each. The $4 billion that Congress approved for the program last year was awarded in two rounds of funding that started in March beginning with Delaware, which received $100 million, and $500 million awarded to Tennessee. Read the complete story.