Chicago-based logistics firm AFC Transport, a leading freight company, is relocating AFC Logistics, its logistics division, to Tampa. With AFC Logistics moving its headquarters to Tampa, the company is working toward reaching a revenue goal of $300 million in three years, therefore the company plans to hire up to 150 employees to accomplish that target, according to the company's Thursday announcement. AFC Logistics is a leading tech-enabled freight broker that provides freight solutions, industry experience and trusted relationships to more than 1000 customers including Fortune 500 companies. “Our growth includes providing more tech-enabled services for our customers and hiring great talent to service our customers. As we physically move to a temporary space in Downtown Tampa and finalize our new office for our corporate operating headquarters, we are excited about providing job opportunities for the declining skilled logistics talent in the area," AFC Logistics President Kyle Ingraham said in the company's release. The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council is helping assist the company in its relocation.
Graduating seniors in Pinellas County Schools now have another resource to help pay for furthering their education. The Pinellas Education Foundation is now offering its new Jump Start Scholarship for county students that meet eligibility requirements. Students with a demonstratable financial need could receive a Florida Prepaid College Foundation Scholarship valued at $3,100 to attend a Florida public college, university or technical school. Students must first complete a Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), submit financial documentation and remain drug and crime-free. Over 100 scholarships are available, and the deadline to apply is April 30. To learn more and apply, visit the link here.
Tampa-based Florida Funders, recognized as the top VC in the Southeast region by Pitchbook, announced it has invested in Chattr's $3.7 million seed round. Chattr, which is also Tampa-based, is an AI-powered software system that acts as a recruiter by automating all the repetitive hiring tasks. Chattr allows people to apply at any time, on any device via online, through text, or in-store in just seven minutes or less and schedules an instant interview if qualified. Its clients include Dunkin’, KFC, Bealls, Subway, DoubleTree by Hilton, College Hunks Hauling Junk and others. The VC firm's investment is from its Fund 2 LLC. The Florida Funders angel network also contributed to the round, according to Florida Funders' Wednesday announcement.
The St. Petersburg Museum of History announced it will offer free admission on Jackie Robinson Day. Friday, April 15, marks the 75th anniversary of the Hall-of-Famer breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Every MLB player will wear Robinson’s number 42 that day to honor the occasion. Museum visitors can see a baseball autographed by Robinson in Schrader’s Little Cooperstown exhibit, which features the Guinness-certified largest collection of autographed baseballs in the world. Mayor Ken Welch will also sign the exhibit’s 5,000th baseball that afternoon. The Museum of History is open from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Friday.
The Pinellas Board of County Commissioners announced Tuesday it is accepting applications for appointments to the CareerSource Pinellas Board of Directors. The position is a two-year, voluntary term. According to the release, the organization seeks executives or owners with companies located in Pinellas County. The CareerSource Board of Directors partners with local business and community leaders to further job development strategies. Per federal and state law, the governing board includes representatives from both the private and public sectors. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Friday, May 6. To apply, visit the link here.
Apogee Real Estate Partners has submitted plans to build a 23-story apartment tower at 155 17th Street South. The project entails building 204 apartments, 6,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, as well as a 300-space parking garage. The plans call for an existing warehouse to be demolished. The proposed project will be reviewed by the City Council on April 21st.
The City of St. Petersburg is accepting applications for its My Sister’s Keeper Fellowship until the end of the day Tuesday, April 12. The focus of the leadership program is to meet the unique cultural needs of Black women seeking to grow and achieve their business and personal goals. The six-month program promotes community leadership through enhancing communication, entrepreneurship, financial empowerment, business and education. To apply, visit the website here.
St. Petersburg Sen. Jeff Brandes, a longtime vocal proponent of property insurance reform, formally asked fellow lawmakers Friday to support his call for a special legislative session regarding the issue. Brandes distributed a template letter for his colleagues to send to the Department of State as the first step in a process that could force a special session. Per Florida law, Brandes first needs 20% of the Legislature to file support with the Department of State. If the Legislature reaches that level of support, the department then has seven days to poll lawmakers. Three-fifths of both chambers would then have to vote in support of the measure. Brandes hopes to address soaring property insurance rates and cancellations before the June 1 start of hurricane season. State leadership failed to agree on an insurance bill during the regular session that ended March 14.
A sellout crowd of 25,025 descended on Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg to watch the Tampa Bay Rays open the season with a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The game embodied the team spirit and nimble player management that defines the Rays, as manager Kevin Cash sent seven pitchers to the mound and utilized 12 of the team’s 13 position players. Both runs came on sacrifice flies - the first time the Rays have won with multiple runs scoring in that manner. With the score tied at 1, the bases loaded and one out in the eighth, Cash subbed switch hitter Francisco Mejia for All-Star catcher Mike Zunino. Mejia delivered a sac fly that drove in backup Ji-Man Choi for the go-ahead run. Rays phenom Wander Franco’s first Opening Day did not disappoint the sellout crowd, as the 21-year-old shortstop went 3-for-4 and impressed with his defense. Franco became the youngest Rays player to open the season with three or more hits and the youngest in the majors to accomplish the feat since 2011.
Travel and Leisure recently named a glass-bottom kayak tour offered by Get Up and Go Kayaking as the best overall activity in the country. The publication based its claim on nearly 2,000 TripAdvisor reviews rating the excursions as the best activity in the U.S. last year. Tours leave from Billy’s Stone Crab restaurant in Tierra Verde and take kayakers around the Shell Key Preserve. The kayak’s clear bottoms provide views of marine life such as dolphins, rays, manatees and sea turtles.
Drift, a startup co-founded by Tampa-raised entrepreneur Elias Torres and CEO David Cancel, has launched its first NFT (non-fungible token). "Soon you could be one of the first people to earn and mint Drift’s first NFT," Mark Kilen, VP of content and community at Drift, wrote in a LinkedIn post. Drift is a Boston-based digital marketing company that expanded to Tampa in late 2019. The startup recently reached unicorn status. Many companies have launched their own NFTs, which are commonly used for digital assets such as art and music and can be used to trade ownership rights to physical objects.
Clearwater-based boat and yacht retailer MarineMax Inc. announced it has acquired Superyacht Management, known as SYM, a superyacht management company based in Golfe Juan, France, through its Northrop and Johnston subsidiary. "The addition of SYM complements MarineMax's ongoing diversification into a higher margin and global business," MarineMax CEO Brett McGill said in a statement. MarineMax expects the acquisition to be accretive in its first full year. The financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.
