Pinellas County deputies, assisted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, have removed and "humanely killed" a 13-foot gator after finding human remains in a canal. On the morning of Sept. 22, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office responded to the area at around 1:50 p.m. following reports of a body seen in the waterway near 134th Avenue North and 121st Street in Largo, according to a news release. "The medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death," according to a PCSO announcement. Officers have not confirmed the victim's identity.
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties will break ground on 12 homes in unincorporated Lealman, just north of St. Petersburg city limits. The development, dubbed The Greenway, will add to the 15 homes the organization built in the underserved area this year. Habitat will host a special groundbreaking Friday, Oct. 6, at 9 a.m. at 4312 46th Ave. N.
Fixed-based operator Sheltair has now completed a $26 million project at Tampa Interntaional Airport, adding four new hangers. The expansion includes an additional 77,000 square feet of hangar space and 32,000 square feet of office space.
The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, which promotes the region to growing and new businesses, has won the International Economic Development Council's Gold Economic Development Organization of the Year Excellence Award for 2023 in the large market category. The EDC received the award this week during the IEDC's annual conference hosted in Dallas. "Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay EDC have been collaborating successfully on transformative projects since the organization’s inception,” Ken Hagan, chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, said in a statement. “Our nationally renowned talent attraction campaign, Make it Tampa Bay, is just one example. Thanks to our joint efforts, Hillsborough County has become one of the fastest growing destinations in the country for tech talent and tops the list of places Generation Z graduates want to move to launch their careers.”
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will offer fare-free bus routes Friday to celebrate World Car-Free Day. The typical passenger vehicle emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, and about seven million people from air pollution each year, according to the World Health Organization. Thousands of cities and communities celebrate World Car-Free Day to promote alternative transportation.
Tampa-based private real estate fund manager Loci Capital Group has closed its second fund, Loci Capital Opportunistic Fund II LP, with over $53 million in subscriptions. The closing of the fund, completed July 31, represents more than double of Loci's first close target of $25 million, according to an announcement this week. Loci Capital, founded in 2019 by Michael Phillips and Patton Chillura, has invested more than $250 million of equity in over $1.1 billion worth of real estate. The second fund includes Loci’s first institutional investor, high net worth individuals, single and multi-family offices, RIAs and wealth management firms.
After six attempts to secure a portion of a $60 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help end youth homelessness, the Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative has now secured $4.6 million. THHI was awarded the funding through HUD’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration initiative, which aims to construct housing units, wrap-around services and housing support, according to an announcement this week. Tampa is one of 16 communities nationwide that has been granted funds from HUD.
Pinellas County’s Parks and Conservation Resources Department will celebrate Bay Pier at Fort De Soto Park reopening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday, Sept. 28, at 11 a.m. Workers removed the previous pier last year due to extensive deterioration. The new $4.76 million structure features a shaded area over the dock for the Egmont Key Ferry, low-level deck and pole lighting, and fish cleaning stations.
Tampa International Airport has once again been named the best large airport in the country by J.D. Power for a second consecutive time. The J.D. Power's North American Airport Satisfaction Survey measures factors to determine travelers' overall satisfaction with mega, large and medium North American airports. TPA earned 832 out of 1,000 points, according to the study released Wednesday.
St. Pete is among the 15 happiest places to live in the country, according to a ranking from Outside Magazine's 2023 'Best Towns' list. It describes St. Pete as "a paradise for those who love beaches, sports, arts, and getting outdoors year-round." The author highlighted the area's robust sports scene and noted the overall Tampa Bay metro area is "home to one of the country’s highest concentrations of LGBTQ+ people and is considered an oasis of liberalism in an increasingly red state." The full list and city description can be found here.
Expanded maternity and family leave for Florida state employees was approved during the Sept. 18 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. Eligible state employees can receive paid maternity leave for up to seven weeks and parental leave for two weeks, which can be combined to provide nine weeks of paid leave for mothers. Previously, state employees could use sick and annual leave or unpaid leave following the birth of a child.
Ark Invest has acquired London-based exchange traded fund company Rize ETF, which manages more than $450 million via European funds. The transaction was completed through a private deal for an undisclosed amount. ARK plans to launch several of its actively managed strategies in the European markets by the end of the year. The transaction will not have an immediate impact on ARK's portfolio management of funds nor the current management of the Rize ETFs, according to ARK's announcement this week. The Rize ETF brand will be phased out as it transitions to "ARK Invest Europe."
