The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy named Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties a 2023 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. The federal program annually recognizes businesses and organizations for significantly contributing to a clean energy economy. The local Habitat affiliate recently built its 800th energy-efficient home.
Tampa-based venture capital firm Florida Funders has invested in Dashbot, a California-based startup that's developed a conversational data artificial intelligence platform. Florida Funders invested in Dashbot’s $6 million Series A round from the Florida Funders’ Fund 2 LLC alongside Bessemer Venture Partners and returning and new investors. Dashbot, which has raised a total of $14 million, helps enterprises leverage the 90% of “dark data” in customer messages across the communication channels, including phone calls, customer service interactions and social media chats, according to the funding announcement.
Denver-based Frontier Airlines is adding daily nonstop flights from Tampa to Phoenix starting May 11. Frontier also announced its fights from Tampa to Punta Cana and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic will start in May. The airline will launch two weekly frequencies to Punta Cana starting May 21 and Santo Domingo starting the following day.
Pinellas County Commissioners approved the master lease and master operations agreement for the ARK Innovation Center (also referred to as the Tampa Bay Innovation Center) during a Tuesday commission meeting. The lease for the 45,000-square-foot facility is between Tampa Bay Innovation Center's entity STAR-TEC and the Pinellas County Industrial Development Authority. The lease term will commence Oct. 1 and will terminate Sept. 30, 2033. STAR-TEC may request up to four, five-year additional successive terms, according to the agreement.
The City of St. Petersburg is offering grants up to $10,000 each to neighborhood and business associations or organizations interested in planting more trees in their community. The application deadline for the new Neighborhood Tree Matching Mini-Grant Program is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, according to the city's Tuesday announcement.
Forbes Advisor analyzed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster declarations for the 200 most populated counties and found Florida was home to 13 of the top 25 most susceptible areas. Pinellas County tied with Hillsborough County and nine others for 13th “most at risk,” with 11 disaster declarations in the last decade. Duval and Manatee County led the state with 12, tied for ninth nationally.
Officials with Winnebago Industries announced Monday that they reached a definitive agreement to purchase Clearwater-based Lithionics Battery. Founded in 2010, Lithionics provides lithium-ion battery solutions that provide “house power” for recreational vehicles and industrial applications. The announcement did not disclose the terms of the deal.
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) CEO Adelee Le Grand, who's held the role since 2021, has been suspended from her position. The board's Monday afternoon decision to place Le Grand on paid administrative leave follows an ongoing investigation stemming from claims that Le Grand created a hostile work environment and mismanagement. HART's Chief of Transportation and Maintenance Scott Drainville will serve as the interim CEO.
Missouri-based retail manufacturer Leggett and Platt Inc. notified the state this month that on July 6, it plans to permanently close its Spring Hill plant operations and the Tampa Welding Department on Distribution Drive. Leggett’s Spring Hill operations, which manufactures and assembles adjustable bed bases, will move to a larger facility in Plant City. The company will be laying off 37 employees and relocating/transferring 52 employees. The company is exploring several sources of outplacement assistance, according to its notification letter.
Former University of South Florida standout Shane McClanahan will make his second consecutive Opening Day start for the Tampa Bay Rays. McClanahan also served as the American League’s starting pitcher in the 2022 All-Star Game. The Rays kick off the 2023 season at Tropicana Field Thursday, March 30, against the Detroit Tigers.
St. Petersburg’s St. Anthony’s Hospital is expanding its Emergency Center to better serve behavioral health patients. The facility will soon feature 13 dedicated rooms that hospital officials can also use for general emergencies according to need. The new construction project will also add more imaging space and expand the Emergency Center’s waiting room.
The latest Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission red tide update shows the harmful algal bloom continuing to dissipate around coastal Pinellas County. Concentrations of Karenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide, did not exceed low to medium concentration levels locally. In addition, the Red Tide Status map shows a drastic reduction in red tide south of Pinellas.
