Finance

Scholarship recipients of 2025’s College Fund of Pinellas County at the annual Christmas Party. Image Courtesy of Board Member Heaven Taylor-Wynn. The College Fund of Pinellas County celebrates 60 years of service as a student financial support pillar to the Pinellas County community. The non-profit has awarded nearly 1,000 scholars over $1.7 million in grant dollars toward their collegiate education throughout its 60-year run, and its upcoming deadline to apply for the 2026

From left: Andrea Falvey, economic development manager; Mayor Ken Welch; Tracey Smith, manager of the St. Petersburg Greenhouse; City Council Chair Lisset Hanewicz; and City Development Administrator James Corbett at the 2026 State of the Economy. Smith received the Economic Impact Award. All images: City of St. Petersburg. Typical data points - like a record $1.4 billion in construction value and an 18% spike in median household income - highlight St. Petersburg’s recent su

This episode is my 5 key takeaways from the What’s Really Stressing Tampa Bay discussion with Zaneta Ellison-McGraw and Dr. Emmanuela Pierre-Charles. Mental Health Stress in Tampa Bay is Being Driven by Real Life Pressures People Often Ignore Warning Signs Until Their Overwhelmed Isolation and Loneliness Are Major Mental Health Concerns Social Media Can Negatively Affect Self-Worth and Emotional Health It’s Okay to Ask for Help and Normalize Health Conversations Click here to

Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a long-discussed property tax reform plan on May 27. Florida lawmakers have approved the proposal, much to the dismay of many city officials. Image: Screengrab. ​Florida lawmakers, in a whirlwind 24-hour special session, approved the governor’s sweeping proposal to overhaul the state’s property tax system on Tuesday. ​Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled his phased approach to eliminating property taxes for 92% of Floridians on May 27. Less than a week later

Entrepreneurs attending a Q&A workshop and receiving constructive criticism and feedback on their marketing ideas. Photo courtesy of the Minority Business Expo. The countdown has begun for the 2026 Minority Business Expo this weekend at the SpringHill Suites, 511 W Lime St, Lakeland, FL 33815. This year marks the third annual Minority Business Expo — powered by The Well Center for Business & Culture, a hub committed to the empowerment of entrepreneurs who are underserved and

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his long-awaited property tax reform plan on Wednesday, despite significant concerns from local government officials. Image: Screengrab. ​Gov. Ron DeSantis has unveiled what he believes is a palatable, phased approach to property tax reform that would immediately raise the homestead exemption on primary residences to $250,000. ​His framework, announced in Tampa on Wednesday morning, would then require lawmakers to enact a plan that eliminates prop

Mayor Ken Welch speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for an affordable housing development. His administration has opened a program that will provide similar projects with up to $15 million. Photo by Mark Parker. ​St. Petersburg officials have launched a $42 million competitive race for developers to replenish the city’s affordable rental housing stock, which has suffered multiple blows from hurricanes in recent years. ​Funding for the new Affordable Rental Housing Program (A

Allen told Breakfast Club co-host Charlamagne tha God in a May 20 interview, the battle has never been about “black or white…It's always been green.” (Image: The Breakfast Club) In a candid interview withThe Breakfast Club, media mogul Byron Allen — worth an estimated $800 million to $1 billion and one of the largest Black media owners in the U.S. — broke down his strategies for media dominance and challenged the nation to recognize that in order to become “one America,” we

Nancy Dunham, known throughout the community as Fancy Nancy, is the owner of Fancy Nancy’s Professional Services and Fancy Nancy’s Bail Bonds. In Pinellas County and surrounding communities, she is known as a connector and resource for families and individuals. Photo retrieved from Fancy Nancy’s Facebook page. An arrest can throw a family into panic before they even know what questions to ask. There is paperwork to understand, money to gather, and a loved one waiting to come

Dr. Jeffery Johnson, chairman of the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency, plans to eventually add “mayor of Tampa” to an already extensive resume. Photo: Facebook. Dr. Jeffery Johnson is a pastor, founder, executive, U.S. Navy lieutenant, global ambassador, and Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He also has unfinished business in the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). ​Johnson was reelected, unopposed, to a second one-year term as chairman of F

St. Petersburg plans to complete $361.25 million worth projects downtown before sunsetting the Intown Community Redevelopment Area, established in 1982 to reduce blight. Photo by Mark Parker. St. Petersburg prolonged a community redevelopment area’s lifespan to support a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium and the Historic Gas Plant District’s rebirth. Officials are now reallocating those […]