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St. Pete Catalyst

St Pete Catalyst •

Demolition to start on the old Howard Frankland Bridge

The Howard Frankland Bridge, which connects St. Petersburg to Tampa, has long been a fixture over Tampa Bay. Its very first span ceased operations Wednesday and will be demolished. 
The bridge opened in January 1960 and was the vision of businessman Howard Frankland, who served on the Florida State Road Board (now known as the Florida Department of Transportation, or FDOT). 
For 30 years, it had a single span that carried traffic in both directions. 
In 1990, the Florida Department of Transporta...
St Pete Catalyst •

Veteran gets her own house with help from Bucs champion

For its 2025 Veterans Build Home project, Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside has partnered with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl champion Martin Gramatica and the Gramatica Family Foundation.
Gramatica and his teenage son, Gaston, spent time Wednesday helping the Habitat team work on a St. Petersburg home-in-progress. 
Priscilla Reed, who served 10 years in the Army, will be its recipient. 
Habitat started to build the 1,296 sq. ft. home for Reed in March. It should be complete by August or...
St Pete Catalyst •

Florida Association of Counties names Rene Flowers president-elect

Pinellas County commissioner Rene Flowers became the Florida Association of Counties’ president-elect June 27. The president-elect is the second senior official of the association, under the president.  
A St. Petersburg native, Flowers represents District 7 (the St. Pete area). 
The Florida Association of Counties (FAC), based in Tallahassee, is a statewide organization that serves all of Florida. County commissioners throughout the state represent their specific counties within the association...
St Pete Catalyst •

USF St. Pete debuts week-long middle school camp

Camp Bullseye, a week-long summer camp for middle school students, commenced Monday morning at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. 
Campers will stay on the campus in dorms for the duration of the week and learn about marine science, entrepreneurship, digital marketing and journalism, and get a taste of college life. 
“This is a tremendous opportunity for you to think about your future,” St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch told the arriving students. The camp, a partnership between...
St Pete Catalyst •

‘Grown up’ Chuck E. Cheese gaming arcade opens in St. Pete

Chuck E. Cheese, the nationally recognized children’s arcade and restaurant chain, has launched a new concept, Chuck’s Arcade. It’s targeted towards adults and teenagers – the individuals who grew up with the Chuck E. brand.  
Ten locations have opened in malls and hotels around the country, including one in St. Petersburg’s Tyrone Square Mall (6901 22nd Avenue N.). 
It was previously known as the Fun Spot Arcade, also owned by CEC Entertainment, LLC, Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company. 
“We didn’...
St Pete Catalyst •

AI drone manufacturer opens a Tampa facility

XTEND Reality Inc., a company that makes advanced drone systems for military and law enforcement use, has opened a new facility in Tampa. 
The 10,000 sq. ft. space, located at the Crossroads Industrial Center (5247 Crossroads Park Drive), will serve as the company’s U.S. headquarters as well as a manufacturing site. 
Founded by Israeli businessmen Aviv Shapira, Matteo Shapira and Rubi Liani, the organization already has a presence in Israel, Singapore and Eastern Europe. 
XTEND hosted a grand op...
St Pete Catalyst •

USF research center to be named for Darryl Rouson

The University of South Florida will name its mental health research center after Florida state senator Darryl Rouson, after months of speculation. 
Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed the center’s name after signing a Rouson-sponsored bill, 1620: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders, into law June 25 at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute building in Tampa. 
The bill was designed to update the Florida Mental Health Act by implementing recommendations from the state...
St Pete Catalyst •

Tampa native creates innovative 3D printing process

Nick Diaco, a Tampa native, has spearheaded an innovative project that improves 3D printing technology. 
3D printing is a manufacturing process where objects or items are made from a digital model. This computer model is sent to a 3D printer, which then builds the desired object from materials such as plastic or metal. 
A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) graduate student, the 27-year-old has focused his research on resin 3D printing, which is commonly used in the medical and jewelry i...
St Pete Catalyst •

Bay area AI startup receives $1.3M in pre-seed round

Iteright, a Tampa Bay area-based startup, recently received $1.3 million in a pre-seed round led by New World Angels’ Innovation Fund. 
A pre-seed round helps startup companies get initial funding to bring their products and services to life. 
Over 30 investors took part in the round. 
The company, founded by Alex Brodsky, has developed an innovative artificial intelligence platform that helps guide business executives through investment decisions.  
A “growth management system,” Itright provide...
St Pete Catalyst •

Homeless: The Studio Public House is losing its lease

The Studio Public House, a popular British restaurant in the Grand Central District, is being forced to close this summer. 
Owner Mike Crippin said that his landlord – the building’s owner – is planning on selling the 2950 Central Ave. building for redevelopment. 
Crippin contacted his landlord late last year to renew his lease for the next five years. 
“In late January, he sent me back all the numbers by email. I agreed. I liked him. I verbally agreed because we communicate by text and email an...
St Pete Catalyst •

United Way Suncoast invests $14.13M in community programs

United Way Suncoast (UWS) will invest $14.13 million in community programs that encourage educational opportunity and financial security. 
The Tampa-based nonprofit will fund 67 programs over a span of three years throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties. 
UWS strives to serve the ALICE population (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). These individuals often live paycheck to paycheck due to the rising costs of living (childcare, transportation, housing, e...
St Pete Catalyst •

Registration still open for July 4 Pier Run

A popular St. Petersburg Independence Day tradition is set to make its return.  
The 5th annual Orlando Health St. Pete Pier Run will take place Friday, July 4. Attendees will be able to participate in a timed 4-mile run starting from Spa Beach Park on the St. Pete Pier. The course will go along the waterfront and end back on The Pier. 
There will be two “waves” of runners. The first group will start at 6:30 a.m. and the second at 7:45 a.m. Each can have a maximum of 1,500 participants. Registra...
St Pete Catalyst •

Despite funding loss, overdose nonprofit remains optimistic

Florida Harm Reduction Collective (FHRC), a St. Petersburg-based nonprofit, has been providing free Naloxone kits through mail distribution to individuals around Florida since 2022. 
Naloxone (also known under the brand name Narcan), typically a nasal spray, is a medicine used to reverse opioid overdoses. 
Between 400 to 600 kits are delivered every month on average. 
Every kit has four doses of Naloxone as well as literature about opioid overdose prevention, addiction treatments and local resou...
St Pete Catalyst •

Clearwater complex to offer affordable housing again 

Sunrise Affordable Housing Group has acquired the Indigo, a Clearwater apartment complex, for $25.5 million. Under the new ownership, it will return to affordable housing.  
Once known as Prospect Towers, the circa 1971 complex at 801 Chestnut Street offered affordable housing for senior citizens for half a century.
Sunrise Affordable, which has offices in Palm Beach, Florida and Toronto, Canada, received approvals for the $51 million project by the City of Clearwater in September 2024. 

The 17...
St Pete Catalyst •

Kava is key at Gateway area’s new Lucid Coffee Bar

Lucid Coffee & Kava, the latest addition to Pinellas County coffee culture, will host its grand opening celebration Saturday and Sunday, 5-11 p.m.
The 1,700-square-foot shop is located at 10328 Roosevelt Boulevard North in St. Petersburg.
Lokesh Vale, who is also the owner of the Twisted Indian restaurant and food truck, partnered with Abram Jacobson, vice president of sales for Pure Infinity Botanicals (a kava and kratom tea distributor) and Amar Nathwani of Barkett Realty. 
Choosing the Gatewa...
St Pete Catalyst •

Foundation awards $2.2 million to bay area nonprofits

Community Foundation Tampa Bay has awarded more than $2.2 million to 84 nonprofit projects within the Greater Tampa Bay area. 
The grantmaking organization’s competitive grants support projects in five key focus areas. They include economic opportunity, environmental resiliency and sustainability, physical and mental health and wellbeing, quality youth education and vibrant and engaged communities.  
“The five areas of focus are based off community conversations,” said Brandi Sanchez, Senior Dir...
St Pete Catalyst •

Teenage entrepreneur develops energy storage product

Noah Bild always knew he wanted to make a difference and build something impactful, ever since he was a little kid. 
The OffGrid Pro, a Bild-designed energy storage solution, is the 19-year-old Pinellas entrepreneur’s first product on the market. It will be available in October through his company, Bild Power.  
An advanced power station, it features a battery with 30 individual cells and a 7200 watt power output. In other words, it can handle electrical needs for long periods of time. OffGrid P...
St Pete Catalyst •

Largo’s Pickle & Pint rides the indoor pickleball wave

Pickle & Pint, an indoor pickleball facility with a restaurant and bar, recently opened in Largo.
The 32,000-square-foot, family-friendly sports venue isn’t the first in the Pinellas County area – there’s the slightly smaller Dink House Pickleball Club, which also is in Largo.
More indoor pickleball courts are in the works, including St. Pete Athletic Paddle & Social, the Pickleball Kingdom franchise and the Dill Dinkers franchise.  
These recent investments in the sport demonstrate its skyrocke...
St Pete Catalyst •

Women’s soccer club will play in league final Saturday

The Tampa Bay Sun Football Club, the first professional women’s soccer team in Tampa, held a press conference today to discuss its participation in the inaugural United Soccer League (USL) Super League championship final against the Fort Lauderdale United Football Club. 
The match will take place at Riverfront Stadium (Blake High School) in Tampa Saturday at 7:30 p.m. 
Head coach Denise Schilte-Brown, team captain Jordyn Listro and player Sydny Nasello appeared and spoke to the media. 
The 2024-...
St Pete Catalyst •

That’s some boat ride: 5,500 miles for charity

Darren Hayes left Tuesday on a 5,500 mile, solo water journey. He set sail on a 22-foot pontoon boat from Tierra Verde Marine Resort in St. Petersburg. 
Hayes, 41, is raising money and awareness for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. The nonprofit serves families of ill children by providing them with a free place to stay during their child’s course of treatment. It also provides food and other resources.
For Hayes, the journey is personal. 
His friend’s daughter had a brain tumor and...
St Pete Catalyst •

Will Tampa ruling affect the St. Pete Dog Bar?

Pups Pub, a dog-friendly Tampa bar, was forced to close June 7 after the Florida Department of Health decided to reverse a decision about allowing non-service animals inside drinking establishments. 
Owners Alex Wright and wife Sheila Suhar received approval from the Department of Health to open the bar under the condition that no food would be served. 
The location proved to be successful and led to another Pups Pub in Orlando (which closed this April for other reasons). 
During inspections of...
St Pete Catalyst •

Officials unveil south St. Pete affordable housing incentives

At its June 5 meeting, the St. Petersburg City Council approved amendments to the South St. Pete Community Redevelopment Area (CRA)’s Affordable Housing Redevelopment Loan program.
The Affordable Housing Redevelopment Loan program was established to create affordable single family and multi-family homes in the South St. Pete CRA.
This area has been prioritized by the City to develop housing and neighborhoods for residents.
The amendments proposed included programs for single family homes, multi-...
St Pete Catalyst •

Startup founder wants to use AI for the mental health industry

Cole Smith, a St. Petersburg-based entrepreneur, has created an AI platform that enhances the therapy experience for both therapists and patients. Opal, which launched earlier this year, was a passion project from the beginning. 
As a student at New York University (NYU), Smith saw the positive effects of therapy firsthand and desired to make high quality mental healthcare more accessible. 
Opal’s software is not just an AI scribe or note taker; it interacts with patients, giving them a space to...
St Pete Catalyst •

City council approves sewer resilience projects 

At its June 5 meeting, the St. Petersburg City Council approved multiple sewer system resilience projects, to ensure their resiliency before, during and after a natural disaster.
They include major renovations at Lift Station 85, the biggest lift station run by the City. 
The station is on the Old Albert Whitted Water Reclamation Facility property, which was decommissioned in 2015. Sewage flows from Lift Station 85 are now directed to the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility.  
City of St. Pete...
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