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Since 1965, the Downtown Partnership has helped to transform downtown, always seeking to be the right catalyst at the right time to move the city forward.
The Partnership focuses on big-picture, long-rage issues and works to form a shared vision for our future, inspired by global thought leadership, national best practices and local sensibilities.
We recognize the relationship between successful cities and green space, diversity, higher education, art, transit, data-based decisions and a balanced approach to equitable and economically sustainable development.
Our members include business leaders, public officials and community partners who are committed to growth that enhances the distinct sense of place that defines this special place. We work closely with our government relations partners in Tallahassee and Washington D.C. on projects and policies to benefit our urban center.
The Partnership has continued to provide support for higher education through scholarships and endowed professorships, investing in endowments for marine science and community programs for USF St. Petersburg.
See the latest news about the Partnership and its Transformative Projects.
Supported USF's government affairs and Pinellas County's legislative delegation to champion funding for the Environmental and Oceanographic Science Center at USF St. Petersburg camp
Worked with the City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance to develop the Comprehensive Arts Strategy, a place to grow St. Pete's arts economy.
Worked with Pinellas County Legislative leadership to fund the Bernie McCabe 2nd District Court of Appeals Courthouse in Mirror Lake.
Started publishing the annual Downtown Development Guide to encourage smart growth and thoughtful development of our urban center.
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Launch of Car-Free St. Pete, an initiative to encourage alternative transportation in the downtown area.
Establishment of the St. Petersburg Innovation District partnered with the City of St. Petersburg, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, USF St. Petersburg campus, The Foundation for Healthy St. Petersburg, Bayfront Health and others to further realize the potential of the area that lies just south of the city’s traditional downtown.
Assisted the arts community in the establishment of the Warehouse Arts District Association and provided gap funding for the District’s new education center.
St. Petersburg Trolley is launched by the Downtown Partnership, which continues to operate the daily, free trolley service circulator, the Downtown Looper with support from the City of St. Petersburg and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Agency. This service also provides private charters for dozens of special events downtown each year – including shuttles for Tampa Bay Rays baseball games, the St. Petersburg Grand Prix and many other private events.
The Downtown Partnership was named downtown’s Transportation Management Organization.
The United States Geological Survey moves into Bayboro Harbor. The Downtown Partnership served as the developer for the USGS site selection process for their lab space and continues to manage the property
Purchases Bayboro Harbor to redevelop it to emerge as one of the city’s highest-quality job centers with several state and federal agencies.
The Downtown Partnership’s legacy begins with a successful first project—helping to locate a University of South Florida campus in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg Progress, the original name of The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, is established. The founding members quietly assembled private Bayboro Harbor land into friendly hands so that when the Florida Legislature was asked to locate a campus, there was prime, waterfront land to offer as a location. Later, the group was instrumental in establishing the university as USF agreed to locate its graduate College of Marine Science in Bayboro Harbor.
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