Bay area political leaders discuss the Rays and more

The race to have the Tampa Bay Rays stay in St. Pete and the worsening affordable housing crisis were the discussion topics at the forefront during the CREW 2022 Economic Development event Wednesday in Tampa.

This year's speakers included St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Nicole Travis, economic development administrator for the City of Tampa, and Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, inside the Hilton Tampa Downtown hotel.

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What historic funding means for local VPK programs

Leaders often say “it all starts with the children” and fail to follow through; this year, the Florida Legislature invested in the state’s future by significantly increasing funding for the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program.

During the 2022 legislative session, Florida’s leadership infused $52 million in recurring state funding to VPK, raising the base student allocation (BSA) by $317 per child - the highest level in the program’s history. In addition, the Legislature appropriated $100 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money for providers that pay teachers a minimum of $15 an hour, equaling another BSA increase of $618.