Applications for Leadership St. Pete’s class of 2025 are due Monday, Sept. 23, at 4:30 p.m. The six-month initiative, one of the nation’s oldest, connects participants with key city stakeholders, teaches leadership skills, provides an in-depth introduction to local issues and concludes with a community impact project. For more information, visit the website here.
Sean Butler, chair of CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas’ governing board, has resigned and applied to serve as the recently formed organization’s permanent CEO. Controversy has clouded the selection process and merger. Steve Meier, former CEO of CareerSource Pinellas, and Sheila Doyle, former interim CEO of CareerSource Tampa Bay, now serve as co-interim CEOs of the consolidated organization.
The Florida Commission on Ethics dismissed a complaint filed against St. Petersburg City Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders alleging that she voted in favor of donors’ initiatives. A report released Wednesday stated that the complainant’s accusations lacked a “legally sufficient basis for investigation.” The commission also noted that elected officials can legally vote on issues that “affect campaign contributors.”
J.D. Power ranked Tampa International Airport second in its 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study released Wednesday. The facility finished two points behind Orange County, California’s John Wayne Airport and took the top spot in the 2022 and 2023 rankings. J.D. Power compiles the annual study by measuring passenger satisfaction in seven “core dimensions” of customer experience.
Port Tampa Bay will soon launch a nearly $6.6 million project to storm-harden the facility infrastructure. The port is a vital cog in Florida’s fuel supply chain, and overhead power lines are susceptible to high winds. The project, which has a $1.1 million contingency fund, includes installing roughly five miles of underground electrical wiring, new manholes and other related infrastructure.
The St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy Foundation announced Tuesday that it would offer $740,000 in grants to 18 education-based organizations statewide. The overarching goal is to support Florida’s growing workforce and encourage environmental resiliency research at state universities. Local organizations receiving funding include the Pinellas Education Foundation and the University of South Florida.
The Speer Dream Foundation has exponentially increased its support for St. Petersburg College’s First Step Scholarship program. The initiative targets South St. Pete residents interested in non-degree workforce certifications. The nonprofit presented SPC with a $250,000 check Tuesday. The school provided 45 scholarships over the program’s first two years and anticipates awarding 100 in 2024.
CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas announced today that former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams will serve as the keynote speaker Oct. 1 at the Opportunity Youth Summit in Tampa. Williams founded The Rebound, a substance abuse therapy program, and the event’s focus is how to get troubled youth between 18 and 24 back into school or the workforce. The Opportunity Youth Summit is from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. and Tampa Mariott Water Street. For more information, visit the website here.
St. Petersburg has created a new graphic information system (GIS) mapping tool to help homeowners easily determine if zoning permits an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on their property. City officials continue expanding ADU-permissible areas throughout St. Petersburg, and the user-friendly platform provides a simple way to explore housing options. To explore the GIS map, visit the website here.
Chef Lee Wolen and Chicago-based Boka Restaurant Group announced Tuesday that they will open an upscale establishment serving steak and seafood at the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in downtown St. Petersburg. Wolen earned a Michelin star at Boka and said St. Pete “holds a special place in my heart” in a prepared statement. Elliott Aster, named after the Florida wildflower and Vinoy developer Gene Elliott, will occupy 10,000 square feet indoors and 4,000 square feet outdoors in the former Marchand’s Bar & Grill space. The restaurant will open in early 2025.
A new Zillow Home Loans analysis found that Tampa Bay is among 22 of the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas where mortgage payments are cheaper than monthly rents. The real estate platform's report found that mortgage rates have dipped to the lowest point since early 2023. Tampa Bay residents typically pay $2,106 in monthly rent but $1,1914 for a mortgage.
Gallagher's Pumpkin Patch opened Monday at 7401 4th St. N. The family-owned pumpkin patch has operated in the city for over 30 years and now features food, games, a bounce house, animal encounters and a petting zoo. Gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
