Last week, the St. Pete City Council approved a $711.216 million budget for the fiscal year 2022. The budget includes a 7.86% city-wide increase in property values. The fiscal year general fund revenue budget is $307.757 million. The approved millage rate is 6.65% for the fiscal year 2022.
St. Petersburg mayoral candidates Ken Welch and Robert Blackmon will discuss the arts Tuesday, in a forum sponsored by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance at the Palladium Theater. Kimberly G. Jackson, executive director of St. Pete College's Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions, will moderate. Admission to the 6 pm. event is free with pre-registration.
St. Pete-based Neptune Flood, a digital-driven flood insurance company, has acquired Jumpstart Insurance Solutions, a leading parametric insurtech. The acquisition adds parametric earthquake to Neptune Flood's portfolio of technology-based insurance products. The financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. California-based Jumpstart uses a parametric approach to provide a set payout amount based on the quake intensity, rather than the cost of damage. The policyholder receives the funds in a matter of days and quick coverage payout offers up to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for small businesses. During the transition, Jumpstart is available via waitlist in California, Oregon and Washington, according to a press release.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady led his new team into his old stomping grounds needing just 68 passing yards to create NFL history on Sunday night. Just a few minutes into the first quarter against the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium, Brady surpassed Drew Brees’ career passing record of 80,358 yards. The 44-year-old quarterback now owns the all-time records for passing yards, touchdown passes (591), regular-season wins (232), and Super Bowl titles (seven). Brady would finish with 269 yards on 22-43 passing in the stadium he called home for 20 years. Brady won six championships during his tenure with the Patriots before leaving New England for sunny Tampa Bay last year. Brady would then lead the Bucs to a Super Bowl victory in his first season with the team.
The Tampa Bay Rays have achieved another milestone this season as they recorded their 100th win on Saturday night. The Rays easily beat the division rival New York Yankees in the Bronx by a score of 12-2 behind a career day from Brandon Lowe, who hit three homers and drove in seven runs. Lowe is the fifth player in franchise history to accomplish this feat. The win marked the first time the Rays have ever won 100 games in a season, and they have done it in the ultra-competitive American League East - which includes four 90-win teams. The Rays came up just short in the final game of the season Sunday night, losing to the Yankees 1-0. They will now face either the Boston Red Sox or the Yankees in the AL Division Series that begins Thursday at Tropicana Field.
Monday, Oct. 4, is the last day for St. Petersburg residents to register to vote in city elections. The election will be held on Nov. 2, and the city will choose either Robert Blackmon or Ken Welch as its new mayor after eight years of the Rick Kriseman administration. In addition to the mayoral race, residents will also choose council members in four districts and vote on seven proposed charter amendments. Citizens can register to vote online or call the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office at (727) 464-VOTE (8683).
Brightline, an intercity rail provider based in South Florida, now has its trains in East Orange County, delivering 1,600-foot rails along State Road 528 to build its rail alignment between Cocoa and Orlando. Brightline is planning to build an 85-mile route from Orlando to Tampa. The steel Brightline is using in Orlando comes from Indian-based Steel Dynamics Inc.
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners has partnered with Farm Share and other community organizations to host a free produce and food distribution event. The giveaway will be held on Friday, Oct. 15, in Clearwater. The event begins at 9:00 a.m. in the Juvenile Welfare Board parking lot at 14155 58th St. North. This is a drive-thru event featuring free fruit, vegetables, and other nutritious food. Anyone who needs groceries is welcome, and the giveaway is scheduled to run until 11:00 a.m. or while supplies last.
Longtime Clearwater Marine Aquarium CEO Frank Dame will step down from the top role on Nov. 5. Dame has been battling a rare form of blood cancer, called Myelodysplasia Syndromes (MDS), for nearly two years and is expecting a bone marrow transplant, if eligible. “As I face and overcome my health challenges, I will always have CMA, its animals, dedicated employees and mission in my heart,” Dame said in a statement. Dame, who has held various roles at the aquarium for 15 years, recently took on the CEO position following David Yates departure. The news comes on the cusps of the aquarium doing multiple renovations, including adding two new manatee rehabilitation sites, one at their Fred Howard Park facility and the other at the aquarium on Island Estates. CMA’s Board of Directors will lead a nationwide search for the next CEO. In the interim, Dr. James “Buddy” Powell, Executive Director of Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, will serve as President and CEO. Dame will remain as Chairman Emeritus after he steps down and will serve as an ambassador to CMA.
HOMEE, a Tampa-based startup that delivers a technology platform for connecting insurers and policyholders in the claims process, has closed a $17 million Series B-2 financing. The closing brings the total capital raised for its B rounds to $36 million. The round was led by Morningside and was joined by Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, State Farm Ventures, Hartford Investment Management Company (HIMCO), Desjardins and Forte Ventures and Activate Capital. Over the past year, HOMEE has experienced a dramatic increase in claims volume, helping drive record financial results for the first six months of 2021, according to the company's announcement.
Beginning today, Florida’s minimum wage is up from $8.65 to $10 per hour. According to Florida legislative plan, by 2026 it will be $15.
The Tampa-based GCD Insurance Consultants has been acquired by OneDigital, an insurance brokerage firm in Atlanta. With the acquisition, 20 GCD team members and about 200 customers will transition to OneDigital. The firm’s three principals, Steve Gionis, Rich Caulley and Josh Dillinger, will join OneDigital in adjacent leadership roles. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
