Pete Catalyst

1 week ago | tbnweekly.com | Mark Parker |Pete Catalyst

St. Petersburg — A sharp decline in St. Petersburg’s workforce mirrors the precipitous drop in job creation. However, property tax and new construction values continue to soar. Revitalization efforts in historically underserved South St. Petersburg have paid dividends, while unemployment remains low, despite a slight uptick. The Tampa Bay Rays are no longer among the city’s top employers, and the long-term effects of an unprecedented hurricane season remain unknown.

2 weeks ago | tbnweekly.com | Mark Parker |Pete Catalyst

ST. PETERSBURG — Pinellas County transportation officials plan to purchase up to two high-speed vessels, which they would lease to a private operator for an enhanced ferry service between St. Petersburg and Tampa. An unused $4.86 million federal grant approaching its termination date would fund the acquisition. Brad Miller, CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, said owning the vessels would reduce hourly operating costs by hundreds of dollars.

2 weeks ago | tbnweekly.com | Mark Parker |Pete Catalyst

ST. PETERSBURG — The city's leadership believes back-to-back hurricanes have better prepared them for the impending storm season. Mayor Ken Welch highlighted ongoing infrastructure improvements May 13 from the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility. Officials shut down the low-lying plant during hurricanes Helene and Milton and have since accelerated efforts to increase its resilience to flooding.

2 weeks ago | tbnweekly.com | Mark Parker |Pete Catalyst

Pinellas County is looking for additional funding for a nearly $11 million project that will storm-harden 35 traffic signals along major evacuation routes. At their May 6 meeting, without discussion, county commissioners unanimously approved applying for two state-administered federal grants totaling $8.23 million. Pinellas must contribute $2.74 million. Officials anticipate receiving the funding.

3 weeks ago | tbnweekly.com | Mark Parker |Pete Catalyst

ST. PETERSBURG — Doug Dozark was at the center of a craft brewery explosion that helped fuel St. Petersburg’s renaissance. He believes the industry’s heyday has since faded into a condominium tower-obscured sunset. Dozark recently announced Cycle Brewing’s imminent closure in a video posted to social media. However, details surrounding why he would close the city’s oldest craft brewery — and his next steps — have remained scarce.