Pinellas County is partnering with the Department of Juvenile Justice to host a free, virtual Juvenile Justice Citizens’ Academy (JCCA). The academy is a civic education program that promotes informed and involved citizenship by offering a behind-the-scenes look at the juvenile justice system. The 10-week academy meets every Thursday from April 5 through June 7. Topics of discussion include prevention, civil citations, residential commitment, community-based programs and the Pinellas Regional Detention Center. Participants are also offered the opportunity to tour juvenile justice facilities. To apply for the program, visit the website here.
In a social media post Thursday, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said the city “is back in the game” as a permanent site for the Tampa Bay Rays. Welch said he was excited to meet with team officials and Pinellas County leadership on Wednesday regarding the Rays’ future. Welch stated that "we have reengaged with urgency to keep baseball in the Sunshine City."
Pinellas County’s Employment Site program (ESP) opened its third round of funding Tuesday. The ESP program assists with the construction or redevelopment of industrial and office buildings for employers in target industries to remain in Pinellas County and create new jobs. The program provides funding for site preparation, vertical construction, infrastructure development and property acquisition. The second round of funding, launched on June 1, 2021, provided four applicants with 50,000 square feet of proposed office space and over 76,000 square feet of industrial expansion space. The first round of funding awarded almost $3 million to three applicants to construct over 216,000 square feet of new industrial facilities. For more information and a link to the online application, visit the website here.
Pinellas County was recently awarded $28.6 million in state funding for five environmental resiliency projects. The governor made the announcement Tuesday from Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin. The funding is part of the Resilient Florida Program, which awarded $404 million toward 113 climate resiliency projects across the state. In Pinellas, the money will support three living shoreline projects in Gulfport Marina, Treasure Island and Phillipe Park. The remaining two projects will strengthen wastewater collection infrastructure.
Tenants at the Tampa International Airport have more than 1,500 jobs in total to fill. The airport will host a job fair event on Feb. 15. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Main Terminal on Level 3. More than 20 companies will interview candidates and offer jobs on the spot. Frontier Airlines alone is looking to hire 1,000 flight attendants. TPA is advising applicants to bring multiple copies of their resume along with photo identification. Face masks are required. Click here to read more about the hiring event.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has pledged another $89 million for workforce education initiatives in the state. On Wednesday at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, DeSantis said he will add another $10 million for state colleges and universities to start career and technical education charter schools to prepare students for the workforce immediately upon graduation. The colleges named to be in receipt of a $10 million fund include Sante Fe, Tallahassee Community College, Northwest Florida State College, St. Pete College and Miami Dade College. "When students from these new charter schools graduate, they will be prepared to join the workforce if they so choose with no debt and will be able to earn very, very good salaries," DeSantis said. DeSantis continued to say $26.5 million will go toward dual enrollment in STEM-related programs, $20 million for post-secondary pathways with a concentration on IT, $12 million to increase registered apprenticeship programs, and $9 million for critical workforce needs.
On the very day (Feb. 1) the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum announced a fundraising campaign, "Invest in Black History," Duke Energy Florida contributed $325,000 towards the $27 million needed to construct a new facility in the Deuces area of St. Petersburg. “The Woodson is more than just a museum for many people in the community," said museum director Terri Lipsey Scott, "and Duke Energy’s support will allow us to continue to fulfill that mission and further our efforts and discussions on history, culture, race, equity and empowerment in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.”
Atlantic Digital Incorporated (ADI), a specialized IT company and solutions provider serving the government, has announced plans to expand its Tampa presence. ADI has plans to continue that growth with 120 new jobs over the next three years, according to a release from the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. The new jobs range from network, systems and cloud engineers to cybersecurity professionals working in the government/defense sector. The average annual wage of these types of positions is $100,000. The company recently hired 80 new employees last year.
After three days of speculation and unconfirmed reports, Tom Brady officially announced his retirement through an Instagram post on Tuesday morning. Brady said he has always believed football is an “all-in” sport, and after 22 years and seven championships, he is no longer prepared to make that competitive commitment. Brady relayed his love for his Buccaneers teammates, coaches and fans and thanked the Tampa-St. Petersburg region for providing such a fun place to live. Brady also asked for an invitation to the next boat parade. The quarterback, widely considered the greatest of all time (GOAT), said he will now devote his attention to his family and businesses. Brady also thanked his wife, Giselle, for taking care of their family while he focused on his football career. Brady called his career a thrilling ride - far beyond anything he ever imagined - and said the friendships and relationships he made along the way are “fierce and deep.” “I will remember and cherish these memories and re-visit them often,” said Brady in closing. “I feel like the luckiest person in the world.”
Despite the ongoing lockout due to a labor dispute in Major League Baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays have announced single-game ticket information and the promotional schedule for the 2022 season. Tickets for the upcoming season go on sale to the public through the MLB Ballpark app and RaysBaseball.com on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. Tickets and parking passes are only available online. Rays Season Members, Spring Training Ticket Holders and Corporate Partners will soon receive information for special presale opportunities. While the team cannot use players’ names, the promotional schedule was also released. The schedule features 16 giveaways, with eight focused on fans 14 years old and younger. For the complete promotional schedule, visit the website here.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, the first African American mayor in the city’s history, is raising the Woodson flag over City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 1, to commemorate the start of Black History Month. The flag depicts Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who many recognize as the father of Black history. Joining Welch for the flag-raising is Terri Lipsey Scott, executive director of The Woodson African American Museum of Florida. The ceremony takes place at 12 p.m., at 175 5th St. N. in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has been named the Grand Marshal of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. The announcement was made on Monday during the ‘first block’ track build ceremony at Dan Wheldon Way. The event is set for Feb. 25-27 on the streets of downtown St. Petersburg. The race was previously scheduled for March 10 – March 12. The change is to ensure a network television spot and potentially broader coverage. The earlier start date also guarantees the city will host the first and opening event of the 2022 IndyCar season. As Grand Marshal, Welch will say the words “drivers start your engines” at the start of the indy car series on the main runway of Albert Whitted Airport. Welch will also participate in additional pre-race ceremonies during the event weekend.
