In The News

Convergent Capital, Liberty Group Led By Youthful Entrepreneurs

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Real estate investor Santosh Govindaraju and hotel developer Punit Shah are the entrepreneurs taking a deep dive into reviving the Channelside Bay Plaza with new retail, offices and a hotel.

They are working with the Tampa Port Authority to also expand public amenities, such as an elevated, covered walkway to reach parking for the Plaza.

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Ignite Tampa Bay Lights Fires Of Passion

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The pressure is on as Ignite Tampa Bay participants take to the Tampa Theatre stage to tell a packed house what turns them on and why others should engage their passions. Presenters get just five minutes and 20 automatically advanced slideshow images to tell their stories.

Applause and spirited enthusiasm were in rich supply as a result.

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Tampa Bay Likes To Eat Out, Chefs Know

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Three new restaurants by three established restaurants in the Tampa Bay region reflect growing interest in reinvesting in the region's emerging new economy.

The dining out spots are among many to pop up in 2013, indicating a rebound in the local economy.

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Florida Ranks #1 For Innovation, Says Fast Company

Fast Company Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Florida earned the No. 1 ranking for innovation by Fast Company because of its high level of new business development, fundable venture capital rankings and annual revenue per startup.

Florida was followed by Texas and Maryland. California ranked No. 7, North Carolina ranked 25 and Massachusetts came in at 42.

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GED Exams Will Soon Be Offered Online

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Floridians interested in taking the GED exam to qualify for better jobs and/or higher edcuation will soon be able to take the test online, making it a bit more costly but also potentially easier for those used to working and composing thoughts on computers.

The trend toward digial already is taking place across the nation and will be required by 2014.

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Ten Years Since Richard Florida Visited Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, April 02, 2013

It's been 10 years since the Tampa Bay Partnership and local business leaders invited Economist Richard Florida to the Tampa Bay region to talk about his book, "The Rise of Creative Class.''

Since then, a variety business and economic groups have focused on attracting and retaining talent while encouraging creatives and innovators as key elements in the new economy.

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Tampa Mayor Rallies Support For Economic Recovery

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn delivered a rousing speech touting the new economy, expanded mass transit and neighborhood improvements in his annual State of the City address.

Buckhorn chose to deliver his message to a standing room only crowd inside the historic but vacant Kress building in downtown Tampa to encourage urban reuse and rebuild of unused and underused properties.

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Columbia Restaurant Plans To Open At The Lens, St. Pete

The Tampa Tribune Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The Columbia Restaurant, one of Florida's premier Spanish restaurants, reached agreement with the City of St. Petersburg to open a new bar and grill as part of the Lens, which is the planned replacement for the Pier.

Owner Richard Gonzmart and Mayor Bill Foster announced some $3 million would be invested in the new seafood-themed dining spot.

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FirstWaVE Venture Center Takes Shape, Tampa

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Tampa Bay startups are moving into new coworking space at Rivergate Tower as part of the FirstWaVe Venture Center funded with a $1M federal grant.

USF, Tampa Bay WaVe, Tampa Bay Technology Forum and the Tampa Bay Innovation Center are partnering on the project.

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Downtown Market Elevates "Cool'' In Lakeland

The Tampa Tribune Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Downtown Lakeland Market is part of a larger effort to bring attention to the Polk County city's growing community of creatives and young professionals.

The city, about halfway between Tampa and Orlando, is on the coveted I-4 Corridor connecting east and west Florida with innovative research and acting as a bellwether for the nation when it comes to poltiics.

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Port Of Tampa Grows Container Traffic, Shipping

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, February 12, 2013

New business -- including the increase shipment of aircraft parts -- will position the Port of Tampa as the gateway to South and Central America from the U.S. and Florida. At least that is the goal.

The growing Port is gaining recognition as a destination for containers as well as cargo.

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Gates Grant Results In Hillsborough Get Mixed Reviews

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Mid-way through implementing changes made possible by a $100 million Gates Initiative, the reviews are mixed for its effectiveness in improving education in the Hillsborough County school district.

Teachers, students and parents weigh in on Empowering Effective Teachers and what it means for kids.

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Visit Florida: Tourism Leads Economic Recovery

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Strong interest from Europeans, South Americans and Asians helped Florida remain one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world through the recent global recession.

Tourism prognasticators predict more than 100 million will visit the Sunshine State annually within a few years.

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St. Pete Mayor Taps Creative Guru, Author

The St. Petersburg Tribune Tuesday, January 29, 2013

St. Pete author and creative consultant Peter Kageyama has a new volunteer gig advising Mayor Bill Foster on how to nurture and expand the city's fledgling creative culture.

Kageyama is the author of "For The Love of Cities'' and leads workshops around the globe on creative cities and grassroots community engagement.

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Times Contest: Name Tampa Bay's Brand

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Tampa Bay Times columnist Robert Trigaux asks readers to come up with a "brand'' for Tampa Bay.

The solicitation of new ideas piggybacks on a several regional efforts by consultants being paid big bucks to do the same.

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