WalletHub recently named its 2024 list of “cities where people are adding the most debt” and ranked Tampa 24th. The personal finance platform compared 100 of the largest cities according to proprietary consumer debt data to determine its rankings. St. Petersburg did not make the list.
Tampa-based digital advertising startup Nickelytics has partnered with Sarasota’s NILENT to provide more name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for college athletes, corporate sponsors and distribution collectives. Amateur athletes can now profit from NIL sponsorships, and the partnership provides an innovative revenue generation and fan engagement source. NILENT is the only gamified educational platform that rewards athletes for completing financial literacy, mental health well-being, brand building and career development courses.
Atlanta-based Havertys has announced a location at 2060 66th St. N. in the Crosswinds Shopping Center is “opening soon.” Bed Bath & Beyond previously occupied the space. Havertys launched in 1885, and the store will be St. Petersburg’s first.
Bank of America announced four Tampa Bay area high school students were selected as Student Leaders, an eight-week paid summer internship program connecting students to employment, skills development and service. The students will gain work and leadership experience, receive financial education coaching through Bank of America’s Better Money Habits curriculum and work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast earning competitive wages. This is the 20th year Bank of America has offered this paid intern program in the Tampa Bay area, with 134 high school students selected as Student Leaders since the program began in 2004.
Qdoba Mexican Eats, a San Diego-based fast-casual restaurant chain, will open its first Pinellas County location at 1330 4th St. N. in St. Petersburg. Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen occupied the 2,100-square-foot space before closing earlier this year. Qdoba has not announced when it plans to open the St. Petersburg location.
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, has long expressed her desire to incorporate comfortable high-heeled shoes into her company’s line of shapewear and activewear. The Clearwater native launched Sneex, a “luxury hybrid stiletto” and “hy-heel sneaker,” Tuesday. The handcrafted shoes are made in Spain, with prices ranging from roughly $400 to $600.
Students returning to the University of South Florida St. Petersburg will see a vibrant new addition this fall. Jay Giroux, a visiting faculty member in USF’s Graphic Arts Program, and several students painted a colorful mural of Tampa Bay’s marine environment that spans all seven floors of the campus parking garage. It transitions from deep-sea depictions on the ground level to the horizon and sky at the top of the parking garage.
St. Petersburg College is continuing its Mental Health First Aid Training program in response to the nation’s mental health crisis. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Community Foundation Tampa Bay’s support ensures public service professionals throughout Tampa Bay receive the training for free. For more information, visit the website here.
The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance/City of St. Petersburg's annual Free Museum Day, Saturday, Sept. 21, will include free admission at the Dali Museum, the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, Imagine Museum, Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, the Woodson African American Museum, the St. Petersburg Museum of History and the Museum of Motherhood. Certain conditions apply; information can be found at each venue's website..
Tampa-based Nickelytics recently announced the acquisition of TruckAds, a national semitrailer and fleet graphic advertising company. St. Petersburg resident Judah Longgrear, CEO of Nickelytics, has now completed three strategic acquisitions this year. Virginia-based TruckAds has operated for 25 years, and the two companies did not disclose financial terms.
Hailey "Hawk Tuah" Welch, the Tennessee native who achieved fame with a controversial viral video appearance in June, is coming to St. Petersburg. The owners of Welcome to the Farm recently announced Welch will make a special appearance at the downtown country bar Friday, Aug. 30. Welch has made several nationwide appearances since June, including throwing out the first of a New York Mets game Thursday.
A scheduling conflict has forced freeFall Theatre to postpone the concert performance freeFall Sings Out, Louise! scheduled for Aug. 22. The "tandem series" event, featuring cast and band members from the current show, Fable, will be rescheduled.
