City Council members unanimously approved increasing down payment assistance from $60,000 to $75,000 for homebuyers in the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area. While the program is open to residents earning at or below 140% of the area median income, those making less than 80% can qualify for loan forgiveness. Officials are working to secure funding to apply the increase citywide.
The former home of Flying Boat Brewing Company and the Brutalist Temple of Beer will house another brewery this summer. The owners of Outcast Brewing Company recently purchased the property at 1776 11th Ave. N. for $2.3 million. The new brewery between St. Petersburg’s North Kenwood and Historic Uptown neighborhoods will also feature a Prosecco bar and beer garden.
The University of South Florida announced Thursday it will create the nation’s first college focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and computing education. The overarching goal is to position Tampa Bay as a national leader in those industries. USF officials plan for the new facility to complement the university’s 13 existing colleges, foster new partnerships and “promote ethical considerations and trust throughout the digital transformation underway in society.” The board of trustees must still approve the initiative.
St. Petersburg-based Raymond James’ board of directors appointed Paul Shoukry, chief financial officer, as company president Tuesday. Shoukry will also become just the fourth CEO in the firm’s 62-year history when he succeeds former president and current CEO Paul Reilly in 2025. Reilly, who assumed leadership in 2010, will serve as the board's executive chairman next year.
Pitcher Zach Eflin will serve as the Tampa Bay Rays’ opening day starter in a March 28 home game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Eflin earned the honor after finishing with a 16-8 record in a career-high 31 starts in a 2023 season that saw the team’s pitching rotation decimated by injuries. The Orlando native grew up rooting for the Rays and signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the club in the 2022 offseason.
Personal finance platform WalletHub recently compared over 180 cities according to TransUnion and Federal Reserve consumer data to determine those adding the most credit card debt. St. Petersburg ranked 87th - seven spots above Tampa - with an average household debt of $13,623. That represents a yearly increase of $1,299. Rancho Cucamonga, California, led the nation with a $3,360 increase and $18,326 in average household credit card debt.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies have selected Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay as the franchise’s first official community partner. Several prominent players and head coach Robbie Nielson joined volunteers and children from the organization for an afternoon of bowling Tuesday to celebrate the announcement. Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters is the nation’s donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network. The Rowdies opened the 2024 season Saturday night with a 2-2 draw against San Antonio FC at Al Lang Stadium.
The University of South Florida’s Board of Trustees agreed Monday to allocate $6.2 million for two projects that will help accommodate a new on-campus football stadium. Over $3.6 million will fund the construction of new recreation fields and associated facilities near the stadium’s future site. Another $2.55 million will support infrastructure and sidewalk improvements and a new fitness trail. USF officials expect to open the fields by January 2025.
Construction is now complete on a new 217,000-square-foot headquarters for the nonprofit organization Feeding Tampa Bay, which focuses on providing food access to families. The Catalyst broke the news in 2021 on plans to open the new facility, which is more than double its current footprint. Although the facility is complete, a Feeding Tampa Bay representative said they have not moved into the new space yet and are planning an official grand opening for this May.
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties and the PGA Tour Wives Association have partnered for a unique home build day ahead of the March 22 Valspar Championship. The Association, comprised of PGA Tour professionals’ wives, will paint two new Habitat homes Wednesday in Tarpon Springs. Middle and high school students from the Ross Norton and North Greenwood Recreation Centers in Clearwater will also volunteer.
The University of South Florida announced Monday that researchers received $692 million in fiscal year 2023, a new record. The amount represents a 27% increase from the previous year and underscores USF’s stature as a preeminent research university. Federal funding totaled $392 million and also increased 27%, over triple the national average.
Last weekend's Joe Bonamassa concert at the BayCare Sound amphitheater, postponed at the last minute when the blues guitarist became ill, has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 24. Tickets for the March 16 date will be honored Sunday at the Clearwater venue. The show begins at 7 p.m.
