10 Things You Didn’t Know about doing Business in the ‘Burg

1. No Longer 'God's Waiting Room'

Since 1970, the median age in St. Pete has decreased 3.3 years, while the U.S.'s median age has increased by 9.9 years. St. Pete was named one of the fastest-growing cities by Forbes (2018) with a total population of nearly 266,000. The Sunshine City has seen a major influx of millennial-aged residents, routinely ranking a top City for young professionals.

2. St. Pete is for Tech

As part of Florida's largest and the nation's second fastest-growing tech hub, St. Pete is one of the top four high-tech employment centers in the nation because of its ever expanding, highly skilled workforce. The City's Innovation District anchors Florida's High Tech Corridor and is home to one of the largest concentrations of world-class research organizations in the country.

3. Twelve Innovation Labs Right Next Door

St. Pete's downtown corridor alone hosts twelve innovation labs within steps of one another including the Dali Museum, Poynter Institute, and SRI International.

Silicon Valley natives and co-founders of InsideOut, the world's leading Sales Innovation Lab, Christina Cherry and Chad Nuss serve clients around the globe from their offices in downtown St. Pete

4. Marine & Life Sciences Giant

NOAA, SRI, and the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal & Marine Science Center  are a part of St. Pete's booming marine and environmental sciences community— the largest in the Southeast.  Marine and Life Science institutions including All Children's Hospital, the 1st U.S. hospital outside of the Baltimore area to be affiliated with Johns Hopkins Health Systems, join forces to foster research in disease resistance and treatment beneficial to the science of all living things. In St. Pete, students can study begin studying Marine Science in Kindergarten and continue through graduate programs without ever leaving City limits.

5. Travel with Ease

Two international airports serve St. Pete: Tampa International Airport (TPA), a 25-minute drive from downtown St. Pete and the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport connect travelers to major hubs around the world. Closer to home is Albert Whitted, located a few blocks south of downtown, with available private charters, rentals, and select commercial routes.

Tampa International Airport is ranked the No. 2 Best Airport in North America

6. Home of Fortune 500's & Startups alike

Along with Jabil, Raymond James, and HSN's St. Pete-based headquarters, the Tampa-St. Pete region is also home to Tech Data and Wellcare. In the first six months of 2018, both Raymond James and Jabil announced major expansion plans within the City. St. Pete's heavy concentration of meetups, accelerators, and co-working spaces combined with the  City's multitude of resources available to budding companies create an environment where entrepreneurs can grow and succeed.

7. One-of-a-Kind Lifestyle for your Team

With year-round sunshine, 225 parks, and the third largest downtown waterfront in North America, St. Pete offers endless exploration. The Sunshine City is home to seven arts districts (and counting) and has ranked the No. 1 American Arts Destination for mid-sized cities since 2010 (American Style Magazine). Twelve beaches within 45 minutes of St. Pete's downtown are enjoyed by residents all year long.

St. Pete is known for its beautiful and unique street art that includes more than 500 murals throughout the entire city.

8. Surprising Affordability

St. Pete's cost of living is below the national average, making it one of the most affordable mid-sized cities in the Southeast. The Sunshine City is considered among the best for first-time home buyers (Wallethub, 2018). No state income tax and and available incentive programs allow residents and business alike to thrive.

9. Progressive Attitude & Sustainability Focused

Through the American Cities Climate Challenge, Bloomberg Philanthropies selected St. Pete as one of 25 cities to receive a robust technical assistance and support package— a $2.5M value. The Sunshine City is routinely ranked as one of the Best Run Communities in America.

St. Pete hosts the largest Pride festival in Florida each year.

10. Hiring is Easier than You Think

Five institutions of higher learning located within city limits fuel a skilled workforce and attract talent to St. Pete from around the world. Local companies have access to the region's nearly 3 million workers. Even more, the average wage in Pinellas County is 17% lower than the national average, making hiring more affordable than comparable cities like Charlotte or Atlanta.

Sources: City of St. Petersburg State of the Economy 2018; Tampa International Airport; City of St. Petersburg