It's an unlikely combo, at least at first: the Tampa Bay Innovation Center and a $7.5 million state grant intended to after natural disasters.
But as the Tampa Bay area saw in 2017 with Hurricane Irma, a massive hit to the tourism industry can be just as difficult as a hit to a physical building.
Tonya Elmore, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, believes a new innovation center, nestled within St. Petersburg's Innovation District, could help should another disaster strike.
"(During Irma) I had to find somewhere for them to work out of — I had to call Atlanta," she said. "And our economy is based on tourism and it had a big impact. So [with this building], we can [help recruit] tech products companies, SaaS companies, that can work anywhere in the world. It can stabilize our economy and help to become a better economy. Because Irma really did hurt our economy and for a long time people were afraid to come here. They were worried about if another hurricane would hit."
Pinellas County recently received a $7.5 million federal Economic Development Administration grant, which comes from an additional $600 million to the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program for hurricanes Irma, Maria, Harvey and other natural disasters in 2017. It will be matched with $4.5 million in local funds.
“This investment will foster a long-term, growth-centered environment in St. Petersburg for small businesses to create new solutions and train a qualified workforce with the skills they need to pursue dignified work," Sen. Marco Rubio said in a statement.
The 45,000 square-foot space will be in downtown St. Pete, at the southwest corner of 11th Avenue South and Fourth Street South in St. Petersburg's Innovation District. Elmore believes the location can help the area become even more innovation-focused.
"It's sort of a peacemaking opportunity where you can get the academic, the medical, you have the research institute Poynter," she said. "There's a lot of scientists within that district— that brain power and cross pollinating can lead to growth. It will be a community for startups to spread out innovation and jobs."
Elmore is hopeful the project will be done within three to four years, with the first two years finalizing the design of the building and the second two actually constructing it. The current space is at 501 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg.
"Three to four years is a long way out, but now that we have the funding we can have things we've thought about getting into place," she said.
The new space is slated to have three types of offerings: the coffee shop/coworking space, the accelerator space with private offices and community space for events.
"The community space is very important — it's something we've never had," Elmore said, adding they will be holding meetings to get community input on what else could be needed in the new space. "Even in the 20,000 square-foot space we have, there's no space. It's very challenging. And maybe with this building, we could even have a youth program. That would be fantastic."
