Pinellas County is now accepting applications for one four-year appointment to the Tourist Development Council (TDC) beginning June 23. The vacancy is for a qualified applicant in the hotel/motel category, and submissions are due by May 23 at 3 p.m. The TDC recommends tourism-related projects and bed tax uses to county commissioners. For more information, visit the website here.
The Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions (ISPS) has announced that additional coastal mayors will now participate in the State of the Beaches town hall event Thursday. The panel includes Treasure Island Mayor John Doctor, Madeira Beach Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks, Indian Shores Mayor Diantha Schear, Gulfport Mayor Karen Love and Redington Beach Mayor Tim Thompson. Bay News 9 anchor Al Ruechel will moderate the free, in-person and virtual event, held in partnership with the Pinellas Beaches Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit the website here.
Global real estate company Greystar and Griffin Capital, an investment firm, announced Tuesday that construction has commenced on The Henry at Whitney Village. The 325-unit apartment complex at 3200 1st Ave. S. is part of the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA campus. The five-story development, part of the sprawling mixed-use project dubbed Whitney Village, should be completed in March 2027.
WalletHub compared 100 U.S. cities by analyzing 19 metrics, ranging from business survival rates to office-space affordability, to determine the best places to launch a business in 2025. St. Petersburg placed sixth on the list released Monday. Orlando and Tampa ranked first and second, respectively.
Conan Gallaty, CEO of Times Publishing Co., announced April 17 that the Tampa Bay Times will not return to its historic home at 490 1st Ave. S. in downtown St. Petersburg. The newspaper's offices have remained uninhabitable since October 2024, when a neighboring tower crane crashed through the building during Hurricane Milton. Gallaty said company officials are looking for a new space.
Miami-based HIG Capital, a $69 billion private equity firm, is selling Koozie Group, a Clearwater marketing products supplier it acquired in 2017. Garline LLC, which operates under private equity firm Mill Point Capital's umbrella, will purchase Koozie Group, founded in 1969, for an undisclosed sum and form one of the nation's largest promotional product manufacturers. Koozie Group sold three Pinellas County manufacturing facilities for $35.9 million last year.
The City of St. Petersburg has extended the deadline to apply for Community Impact Summer Enhancement Grants until May 2. The program offers up to $35,000 for organizations that provide engaging summer programming to uplift young people academically, socially, emotionally and civically. For more information, visit the website here.
The City of St. Petersburg announced Friday that the playground at Crisp Park has reopened. The playground at Poplar Street and 35th Avenue NE in the Snell Isle neighborhood was one of 11 that remained closed in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Crisp Park also features two boat ramps, pickleball courts and restrooms.
SmartAsset released a report Thursday that found the average monthly rent in St. Petersburg increased 6.06% year-over-year. That ranked No. 6 among the nation's 100 largest cities, despite a decrease in demand. Tampa did not place among the personal finance platform's top 20.
According to a Redfin report released Wednesday, Tampa Bay's net inflow of new residents slowed to a trickle in 2024. The real estate platform found that the metro area received just 10,544 new arrivals last year. That represents a 30.2% drop from 2023, which paced the nation.
While no Pinellas County restaurants received coveted stars from the Michelin Guide during the first year of eligibility, several did earn recognition. Michelin now considers Fortu, Sushi Sho Rexley and Il Ritorno in St. Petersburg, and The Tides Market in Safety Harbor as "recommended" establishments. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater signed a two-year, $90,000 annual contract for consideration in February.
Pinellas County Air Quality officials issued an Air Pollution Precautionary Advisory in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday. They expect the area to experience moderate levels of ozone pollutants that could potentially reach "unhealthy for sensitive groups" status. People with ozone sensitivities, lung disease, the elderly, children and those who are active outdoors should consider limiting exposure. Officials blame elevated levels on high temperatures, dry air and a high-pressure system affecting the region.
