The unemployment rate in Pinellas County was 2.5% in May, which is the same rate the area had a year ago, according to the state's monthly job report released June 16. The labor force was 529,316, up 20,431, or 4% percent, over the year. There were 13,079 unemployed residents in the region. The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro had the fastest annual job growth rate compared to all the metro areas in the state in the professional and business services, and mining, logging and construction sectors.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will offer fare-free rides all day during the St. Petersburg Pride Parade on Saturday. Riders can park at St. Pete High School (located at 2501 5th Ave. N.) from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and get a free ride to the parade. Those interested in taking the SunRunner to the parade should consider getting off at the USFSP stop (6th Ave. S.), according to PSTA's Tuesday announcement. Additionally, all other PSTA bus routes will also be fare-free that day.
Officials with the Woodson African American Museum, the City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance unveiled a reimagined Black Lives Matter mural Monday in celebration of Juneteenth. It now reads “Black History Matters.” City officials have closed the area in front of the museum at 2240 9th Ave. S. until July 10. To view a picture of the updated mural and a list of participating artists, visit the website here.
Tampa Bay Rowdies and 5v5 Soccer officials have partners to host an all-day soccer tournament Saturday, July 8, at the Oldsmar Soccer Complex. Teams will play four games, with the top three earning medals. The event is open to all ages, and everyone will receive a ticket to July 8 match between the Rowdies and Oakland Roots SC at Al Lang Stadium. For more information, visit the website here.
The Adventure Island water park in Tampa is planning to build a new attraction dubbed "Project 'Ohana." Local consulting firm Mills and Associates Inc. filed a stormwater permit on behalf of Sea World Parks and Entertainment LLC, Adventure Island's parent company, for the new attraction that will be built on 0.635 acres next to the Solar Vortex water slide ride. The proposed project for the site, which is currently developed with a structure, calls for the removal of 14,329 square feet of existing concrete walkways/impervious area and the construction of approximately 16,435 square feet of new concrete walkways/impervious area. The same consultant firm has also filed plans for the construction of a 1,968-square-foot giraffe bull holding building at the neighboring Busch Gardens Tampa Bay park.
Construction crews are making significant progress on the $865.3 million Howard Frankland Bridge replacement project, which is expected to be completed in late 2025 or early 2026. The new bridge will have eight lanes: four will be general use lanes, allowing drivers to travel from Tampa to St. Petersburg, and four will be express lanes. As of this month, roughly 90% of the piling have been driven and the majority of the bridge footings, columns, beams and bridge caps have been installed and completed, according to the state's transportation department. Once the new bridge is completed and traffic is moved to the final alignment, the existing northbound/eastbound (St. Petersburg to Tampa) bridge will be demolished.
According to a Forbes article published Friday, Trip Miller, a Nashville hedge fund manager, is putting an investor group together to buy the Tampa Bay Rays for $1.85 billion. Stuart Sternberg led an ownership group that purchased the team for $200 million in 2004 and has repeatedly denied the Rays are for sale. Forbes valued the Rays at $1.25 billion in March, 25th out of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams.
The Woodson African American Museum is leading a community effort that includes the City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance to reimagine the Black Lives Mural in front of the institution at 2240 9th Ave. S. Several local elected leaders will participate in an unveiling on Juneteenth Monday, June 19, at 11:00 am. The Vitale Brothers are resurfacing the roadway, and 19 other local artists will come together to paint the letters Saturday. City officials have closed the area until July 10.
Despite a historic start and league-leading record, no Tampa Bay Rays are pacing their respective positions in All-Star Game fan voting. Third basemen Yandy Diaz leads the Rays in votes but trails the Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero. Randy Arozarena is fourth among American League outfielders, and shortstop Wander Franco ranks third for his position. To vote for your favorite players, visit the website here.
Arctos Sports Partners, a Dallas-based private equity firm that invests in shares of sports franchises, is in the process of buying a minority ownership stake in the Tampa Bay Lightning in a transaction valuing the team at $1.4 billion, according to a report from Sportico. Arctos is an existing minority investor. Arctos will need a waiver from the National Hockey League to proceed with the purchase.
After St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch recently announced the rollout of the South St. Petersburg CRA (Community Redevelopment Area) Microfund program to create new accessible funding pot for business owners, the city has selected 56 businesses for the program. Over the next few months, business owners will work to develop a personalized capacity-building plan, a business and spending plan, and complete several surveys and a final report. Upon completion of the program, each cohort participant will be eligible to receive up to $10,000 to be used at their discretion based on their planning with their Greenhouse Navigator, according to the city's Thursday announcement.
School-based popup clinics will provide physicals, immunizations, vision screenings and basic dental services for children starting Monday, June 19. The free program requires an appointment, a parent or guardian present and immunization and medical records. Call (727) 824-6900 to make an appointment and select option 4.
