Midtown Economic Development
Continuing the Progress
For many years, Midtown residents have envisioned their 5.5 square mile area transformed into a district where its people earn wages that allow them to adequately provide basic necessities (food, clothing, shelter, etc.) for themselves and their families. Additionally, they desired amenities comparable to other St. Petersburg neighborhoods such as a bank, grocery store, medical facility, full service post office and a museum.
Since 2002, the department of Midtown Economic Development has been in place and committed to facilitating the redevelopment and economic growth of Midtown. Primarily to support the economic development facet, the Business Assistance Center (BAC) was established and its staff provides services with a host of entities i.e. SCORE - America's Counselors for Small Businesses, the TBBBIC - Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation, the University of South Florida Small Business Center and the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. All of which provide a full range of business support services for potential, new and existing businesses. Recently, the BAC relocated its office to 33 – 6th Street South, to afford its clientele easier access to other city departments.
Midtown Economic Development has supported local job fairs which offer residents increased opportunities to gain or improve employment. Another component to economic stability is home ownership. To that end, many residents have been referred to the Wealth Building Coalition, a non-profit organization that provides counseling for first time home buyers. This counseling includes financial literacy classes that encourage participants to invest their earnings in asset building ventures.
To date, Midtown residents have witnessed the completion of the award winning Tangerine Plaza which includes a Sweetbay supermarket and 11,000 square feet of additional retail space. The plaza is the southern anchor of the revitalized 22nd Street S. historic district, which includes the Boys and Girls Club's Royal Theater, the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center at the Mercy Hospital site, the Manhattan Casino, the revitalized Jordan Park housing community, the Carter G. Woodson African-American History Museum and the Seaboard railroad station.
The future looks bright, as the department anxiously awaits the completion of the first full service bank. The branch will be located on the southwest corner of 22nd Street and 18th Avenue South, in a 3-story building that will offer additional commercial space. Additionally, as part of the development of the Dome Industrial Park, the construction of a new Job Corps site will begin.
Finally, we are embarking on a new phase of redevelopment of our "seamless city." This is the planning and implementation of the Greater Childs Park Revitalization Initiative.