Overview of Tampa in 2023

Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon first arrived in the Tampa Bay area in 1513, but the Spaniards focused their attention on settling eastern Florida and left the western areas alone. In 1824, only two months after the arrival of the first non-native settlers, the U.S. Army established Fort Brooke to protect the strategic harbor at Tampa Bay. Development of the region began after the territory became part of the United States in 1845. Despite the blockade and federal occupation during the Civil War, the area grew steadily. Henry B. Plant's 1884 railroad extension to the Hillsborough River provided access to new areas, and he built lavish hotels along his rail line to attract visitors which led to continued economic growth in Tampa that lasted for the next fifty years.

Tampa owes its commercial success to Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River. When phosphates were discovered nearby in the late 1880s, the resulting mining and shipping industries prompted a boom of growth and wealth that lasted through the 1890s. Tampa's port is now the seventh largest in the nation.

The military has also had an ongoing role in Tampa's development. The City was the primary outfitting and embarkation port for U.S. troops bound for Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Today the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command are headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base.

The advent of the automobile was responsible for a large settlement wave that occurred 1923-26. Many subdivisions were built during this era; one of the most notable was Davis Islands, a man-made island created by D. P. Davis. The elegant homes Davis built remain some of Tampa's loveliest.

The main Tampa downtown business district has grown phenomenally since the 1960s. Major banks and an increasing number of other corporations occupy large glass, steel and concrete buildings that tower high above the bay. Tampa continues to attract key industries such as corporate headquarters, bioscience, international trade, technology, financial services, manufacturing, and distribution companies.

Tampa has evolved into a multi-cultural, diverse business center with sustainable communities for its citizens. People of all ages arrive here to escape the worries and winters of wherever they came from, and an increasing number of them stay.

The Tampa Bay area is the proud home of several professional sports teams including the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Tampa Bay Rowdies. The City of Tampa also hosts the New York Yankees' spring training each year at the City's George M. Steinbrenner Field baseball stadium and they are celebrating their 27th Anniversary Season in Tampa this spring of 2022.

The Yuengling Center (formerly known as the USF Sun Dome) is located on the campus of USF and is home to the National Collegiate Athletic Association's USF Men's and Women's basketball teams, USF Volleyball team and is host to numerous concerts and events throughout the year.

Tampa offers a variety of post-secondary educational opportunities. The University of South Florida (USF) offers premier research opportunities in the fields of science and medicine. USF offers 180 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialty, and doctoral levels, including the Doctor of Medicine. USF is designated as a "Preeminent State Research University" and is one of only 56 public research universities classified by the Carnegie Foundation as both, a Doctoral University with "Highest Research Activity" and as a "Community Engaged" institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

In January 2020, the new USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute opened at Water Street Tampa, the world's first wellness district, bringing approximately 1,800 students, faculty, researchers, and staff to Tampa's downtown urban core and waterfront. The state-of-the-art training facilities at USF Health's Morsani College of Medicine, Taneja College of Pharmacy, and Heart Institute provide superior medical education, clinical care, and research to improve patient care and health outcomes while transforming health education and pioneering discoveries to end heart disease. The new facility provides immediate access to Tampa General Hospital, USF's primary teaching hospital, as well as proximity to USF's Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation ("CAMLS") and the Tampa Bay Research and Innovation Center at CAMLS.

The University of Tampa ("UT") is a private university located on approximately 110 acres of prime riverfront land in the heart of downtown Tampa. UT provides more than 200 fields of study including various graduate studies programs. UT is regarded as one of the nation's best 384 institutions for undergraduate education by The Princeton Review. Only 15 percent of four-year colleges in the U.S. share this honor. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UT in the top tier of the category Regional Universities (South), and for 2020 includes it on five additional lists. Since 2010, UT has been included on Forbes' annual ranking of America's Top Colleges. The list is based on factors such as educational quality, graduation rates, and career prospects.

Hillsborough Community College ("HCC") offers more than 190 academic options which include an array of business, technical, and health sciences. HCC has five primary campus locations, two satellite locations, a very active distance learning program, and a comprehensive corporate training center.

Also, near downtown is the Tampa Law Center of the Stetson University College of Law. Saint Leo University, just north of Tampa, has a center at MacDill Air Force Base and has been recognized as one of the top military-friendly colleges and universities

ZooTampa at Lowry Park was voted Best Kids Attraction in Tampa Magazine’s Best of South Tampa 2021 awards, five-time winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence (2010-2015), and is one of the most popular zoos in the southeastern US, with close to 1 million visitors annually. Encompassing 56 acres, ZooTampa cares for a variety of animals with emphasis on endangered, threatened, and vulnerable species from Florida and similar climates/habitats with park areas devoted to Florida, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Other features include aviaries, primate exhibits, the manatee critical care center, a splash pad, rides, shows, hands-on interactive exhibits and animal encounters, and signature seasonal and fundraising events. The Florida Environmental Education Center or "Zoo School" is a hands-on learning facility that offers year-round childcare, preschool, and summer and holiday camp programs. Since 1988, ZooTampa has educated more than 1.8 million school-aged children throughout Tampa Bay, increasing awareness about wildlife and the ways in which students can contribute to their preservation. ZooTampa has again received accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the gold standard for animal care and welfare which is received by only 10% of the zoos across the United States. Additionally, the Zoo has won numerous awards for its animal conservation and management programs and has been recognized by the State of Florida as a center for Florida wildlife conservation and biodiversity.

The David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts ("Straz Center"), located on the east bank of the Hillsborough River, is one of the largest performing arts institutions in the country and provides an environment for a wide variety of world-class events. The Straz Center includes five theaters, a rehearsal hall, coffee shop, restaurants, and showcases community art projects of local artists as well as artists from around the world and through the ages. It boasts one of the nation's leading Broadway series and is nationally respected for producing grand opera, as well as presenting a wide variety of concerts, performances, and events. Also, the Patel Conservatory, the only accredited performing arts school in the region, offers performing arts classes in dance, theater, and music for students of all ages and experience levels.

The Tampa Museum of Art in downtown Tampa features antiquities as well as modern and contemporary art exhibitions. Other museums include the historic H. B. Plant Museum at the University of Tampa, the Contemporary Art Museum at USF, the Scarfone Gallery at the University of Tampa, the Veteran's Memorial Museum and Park, the Ybor City State Museum, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, and the Glazer Children's Museum.

The City of Tampa's budget is affected by a variety of economic factors that are significant drivers of demand for City services and major revenues. The following is a brief discussion of historical and current key economic indicators, including employment and population growth, employment industries in Tampa, unemployment rate, and the performance of two major economic engines (Port Tampa Bay and Tampa International Airport). According to the University of Central Florida's Florida & Metro Forecast 2022-2025, the fastest growing employment sectors are leisure and hospitality (8.0%) and the other services sector (5.7%).

The metropolitan statistical area ("MSA") economic indicators for Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater are expected to show relatively high growth compared to other areas in Florida. According to the University of Central Florida's Florida & Metro Forecast 2022- 2025 from March 2022, population growth will average 1.1% annually, employment growth is expected to average 2.8% annually, and the unemployment rate is expected to average 3.4% through 2025. The unemployment rate for the MSA as of May 2022 is 2.4% per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Tampa continues to grow and prosper. In Fiscal Year 2020, the City permitted construction projects valued at over $4.6 billion (24,160 building permits) and $2.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2021 (24,795 building permits). The City anticipates $14.7 million in construction permit and enhancement fee revenues to be generated for Fiscal Year 2022. The level of construction permit revenues is the result of an increase of new construction activity and home renovations.

The City continues its commitment to economic development. There is focus on the City and region's economic leadership, stability, and most importantly, business opportunity. Today, the City is smarter about how it does business, is more efficient and accessible to citizens, and continues to streamline its permitting process. City employees work hard every day to grow and retain existing business, attract new businesses, develop entrepreneurship, and make Tampa a more competitive city through a variety of initiatives, including enhancing Workforce Development and Housing Affordability programs to ensure the City has the tools necessary to provide for all its residents across all neighborhoods and communities.

Strategic Property Partners, LLC, in partnership with Cascade Investments, are continuing to redevelop approximately 53 acres in south end downtown Tampa into a vibrant, diverse, walkable neighborhood. The mixed-use development includes the University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute, a grocery, retail spaces, office buildings, a variety of residential choices, two new hotels, and a walkable neighborhood. The Water Street development is the world's first WELL-Certified city district designed with a focus on health and wellness. It has recently achieved LEED silver certification under the category of LEED® for Neighborhood Development. LEED acknowledges excellence in green construction for individual buildings while LEED Neighborhood Development considers the design of public spaces between buildings and how they will be used by people in the community. Construction on master infrastructure improvements, funded by property tax increment revenues, is underway and expected to be completed by early 2023.

The development's first hotel, the JW Marriott, opened in December of 2020, and when paired with the Tampa Marriott, is expected to boost the areas appeal for conventions and other large gatherings. The Heron Apartments are now complete and fully leased. The two towers rise to 26 and 21 stories respectively and comprise of 420 total residences offering sweeping views of the Tampa skyline and Hillsborough Bay. GreenWise Market, a full-service grocery located on the first floor, opened in the summer of 2021. Additionally, ReliaQuest, a cybersecurity firm, relocated its company headquarters to office space in Thousand and One. The next major phase of development is currently being planned for the former Ardent Mills site north of Cumberland Avenue.

Tampa-based developer, SoHo Capital, acquired the site immediately north of downtown to create a historic-style, mixed-use neighborhood called The Heights, to develop 39-acres of residential, hotel, office, retail and a market hall. The Heights is anchored by the restored historic Armature Works brick warehouse, now containing The Heights Public Market, an innovative market featuring an open floor plan with communal seating surrounded by restaurants and including event and exclusive coworking spaces. Two new office buildings, known as The Heights Union, provides over 150,000 SF of office space companies such as Amgen and Pfizer who recently started moving into these spaces. A large mixed-use garage has been built on the east side of the development and now home to Sprout Farmer Market. Plans are underway for new office spaces, a boutique hotel (Moxy Hotel), and 1,600- plus homes. The total investment is estimated at $980 million.

Gas Worx is a $750 million, mixed-use development that connects Ybor City, Central Park neighborhood, and downtown Tampa. The project is partnership between local business owner Darryl Shaw and national developer, Kettler Development. The first phase of construction on the west side of Nuccio Parkway is proceeding through permitting in mid-2022 with a start of construction in late 2022 or early 2023. The 50-acre development will include mixed income and market rate residential units, new retail spaces, office space, and restaurants that will connect the historic Ybor to Water Street. It will bring a more vibrant live, work, play type of atmosphere to Ybor City.

In May 2020, Tampa hired its first Sustainability and Resilience Officer whose duties include implementing the City’s Resilience Roadmap, developing a Climate Action and Equity Plan, tackling stormwater management and sea level rise, transitioning the City to 100% renewable energy, and ensuring citywide environmental justice for all residents. On December 9, 2020, the Mayor announced the Sustainability and Resiliency Advisory Team to help with implementing the Resilience Roadmap and developing the Climate Action and Equity Plan. The Resilience Roadmap was developed through robust community engagement and with the assistance of international experts from the Resilient Cities Catalyst organization. The official Resilient Tampa Roadmap was released in May 2021 (https://www.tampa.gov/green-tampa/resilience). There are 58 initiatives across Resilience Tampa which are included in the following major categories:

• Opportunity for all Tampanians

• Thriving Neighborhoods

• Climate-Ready Infrastructure

• Growing and Connecting City

In August 2021, the City Council adopted a non-binding Resolution calling for the City’s stationary municipal operations to transition to run on 100% clean, renewable energy from solar, wind and tidal sources by 2035. Additionally, City Council supports City goals of moving to a fleet of electric vehicles; transitioning to forms of public transportation that do not produce emissions (for example, expanding bicycle and pedestrian rights of way and building infrastructure necessary to support electric vehicles throughout all neighborhoods); and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the Mayor is separately committed to net zero emissions by 2050 and the City administration is working to develop a renewable energy plan that establishes a goal and a year for transitioning the City to 100% renewable energy and should have the analysis complete by the end of 2022.

The City received a grant to complete the LEED for Cities certification process. The program gives planners, developers and local governments a framework for implementing plans to address energy, water, waste, pollution and carbon, and accounts for social and economic indicators. Through LEED, local leaders can hone metrics around initiatives, benchmark performance relative to peers, and communicate to and educate stakeholders on progress. The technical assistance provided with the grant is valued at $75,000 to $150,000.

The City's E-Scooter program has been hugely successful and provides a low-cost method of transportation. Using E-Scooters for short-distance travel instead of cars helps to reduce unnecessary congestion and traffic, improve downtown mobility, and reduce carbon emissions.

The City is continuing its partnerships with Learning Gate Community School, the USF Patel College of Global Sustainability, and others in the Tampa Bay area environmental community celebrating EcoFest. Ecofest 2022 will be the 12th annual community event to celebrate the many businesses, organizations, and individuals in the Tampa Bay Area dedicated to the principles of sustainability, ecology, equity, and economy.

The Tree-Mendous Tampa Free Tree Program not only plants trees, but also includes an educational component to help residents by providing best management practices for trees. Since 2013, over 6,000 trees have been planted for residents of the City of Tampa. The program, which is funded by the Tree Trust Fund, contributes to improving the City's urban tree canopy and the City's sustainability efforts.

The City boasts over four million trees that assist in the removal of air pollutants, provide energy conservation, conserve soil and water, and bring the natural environment into the lives of Tampa residents and visitors. For four decades, the City has received the Tree City USA designation by the Arbor Day Foundation for it its street canopies, planning efforts, planting programs, and proven urban forestry practices, all of which reduce greenhouse gases.

The City of Tampa partnered with the Resilient Cities Catalyst to begin developing a Resilience Roadmap for Tampa. The Resilient Cities Catalyst has worked with cities around the world to help communities identity, assess, and mitigation shocks and stressors. This effort is more relevant than ever given the global COVID-19 pandemic and social justice issues. The City will review the results of the roadmap and work to close gaps or implement strategies to achieve more resilient city operations and community well-being.

The City was awarded a $75,000 grant from The Florida Resilient Coastlines Program ("FRCP") to study the impacts of sea level rise on our community and to identify key recommendations for resilience planning. This state-funded grant will provide analysis and recommendations of current land use, zoning, and building regulations to prepare for climate impacts. The City of Tampa requested grant funding to support The Land Regulatory Response to Sea Level Rise research study, which will serve as a legal and regulatory road map to improve sustainability and resilience. The project will identify impacts of sea level rise scenarios on the built environment and it will assess the economic, social, and legal viability of various regulatory measures to protect property and investment while maintaining continued opportunities for economic development in affected areas.

The City has multiple offices and organizations ensuring equitable treatment for all. The significant involvement of the City of Tampa in human rights, socio-cultural diversity, social justice, and inclusionary issues demonstrates that the City supports social equity principles and embraces its diversity, viewing it as a positive and powerful attribute. Consequently, the City of Tampa scored a 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2019 Municipal Equality Index Scorecard. The Municipal Equality Index displays the ways that many cities can, and do, support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) people who live and work there, even where states and the federal government have failed to do so.