A partnership between the University of South Florida and the City of Clearwater has led to the opening of ARTours, a self-guided walking experience utilizing augmented reality to enhance downtown murals. With the ARTours Clearwater app, users can point a device’s camera at the murals to view animations, graphics, videos and audio for interactive experiences. The program and app launch March 9.
Strive Sales, a UK-based talent hiring agency focused on the software sales industry, has opened its first international office in Ybor City. “Tampa offers everything we were looking for in a North American headquarters – a robust talent pipeline, an active startup community, low business costs and an excellent quality of life,” John Hitchen, US managing director for Strive Sales, said in a joint announcement from the company and Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. Strive plans to create 11 jobs over the next two years in sales, account management and recruiting roles.
Auto repair coverage provider Advanced Marketing and Processing Inc., doing business as Protect My Car, has cut 75 local employees in finance and insurance positions via a mass layoff. The layoffs, which went into effect Feb. 23, took place at PMC's St. Pete HQ at 570 Carillon Parkway. "This decision must be made due to unforeseeable business circumstances," the company wrote in a Feb. 23 dated notification letter to the state.
Based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings posted on TripAdvisor over the last year, St. Pete Beach is the nation’s 14th-best waterfront destination. The Travelers Choice rankings also include an editorial process, and Ka’anapali Beach in Hawaii placed first. St. Petersburg beach edged out Clearwater Beach, which came in 23rd.
St. Petersburg’s Doom Club Tattoo Collectives is offering free laser removal for any gang-related or racist tattoos. While the process takes several sessions and can be expensive, the owner hopes to help people begin a fresh start in life. For more information, visit the website here.
The CJs On The Island bar and restaurant at Treasure Island will be closing its current location on April 30, the owners announced on Facebook. The restaurant will be moving to 5631 Park St. N. in St Petersburg and will be branded as “CJ’s On Park."
AdventHealth Tampa has opened a new 20-bed unit dedicated to patients diagnosed with heart failure - a disease that affects one in five people over age 40. The new unit allows AdventHealth’s board-certified cardiologists to provide advanced therapies and highly specialized care to patients who have the most progressed stages of the disease, according to the announcement. Doctors Gus Agocha, JaMia Washington, Oliver Abela, Rozales Swanson and Merna Armanious are leading the heart failure program.
CareerSource Pinellas and St. Petersburg College are partnering to host a career fair focused on the engineering, manufacturing and construction industries Thursday, March 2. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at St. Petersburg College’s Clearwater campus, located at 2465 Drew Street. To participate, job seekers must register through the link here.
The Hidden Voices Project, in partnership with St. Petersburg City Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Quis For Life, The Well, Moms Demand Action and several other organizations, is holding a “Stop the Violence” walk and gathering Tuesday. The event, scheduled from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Wildwood Park, is to raise awareness of violence and shootings in St. Petersburg.
The AC Hotel by Marriott St. Petersburg Downtown has opened. The eight-story, 172-room property is the hospitality portion of Ascent St. Petersburg, a mixed-use project that also comprises a 36-story luxury apartment tower and 5,500 square feet of retail space. OTO Development has purchased and will manage the hotel, which includes Cane and Barrel Rooftop Bar, according to a news release.
Department of Transportation officials announced possible detours for northbound I-275 traffic starting Tuesday night at 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. due to the Gateway Expressway project. The detours occur between Gandy and Roosevelt Boulevards and run through Friday, March 3. Officials expect additional disruptions Monday, March 6.
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg is hosting an expansive hiring event Wednesday, March 1, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at its main campus. Hospital officials seek to fill positions in several departments, and some qualified candidates could receive job offers the same day. For more information and to register, visit the website here.
