TAMPA, Fla. — As projects like Rome Yard take shape and a potential Tampa Bay Rays stadium project looms, the City of Tampa is asking residents to step in and help guide how development impacts their communities.
City leaders are now accepting applications for the Community Benefits Advisory Council (CBAC), a non-partisan board that plays a direct role in shaping what neighborhoods receive in return for publicly funded development projects.
What is the Community Benefits Advisory Council?
The CBAC was created as part of the city’s Community Benefits Agreement program approved in 2023. The goal is to ensure that developers who receive public funding also provide meaningful benefits — like affordable housing, job opportunities, infrastructure upgrades, and community services.
Members of the council advise the mayor, city council, developers, and the public on how to best deliver those benefits.
Javier Marin, director of economic opportunity for the city, says the process is designed to center the community in development decisions.
“So what we do is, as developers are getting public funding from the City of Tampa. We want them to have a direct conversation with the community about the type of benefits they will include in their project — in exchange for that funding or land,” Marin said.
He says the advisory council plays a key role in shaping those outcomes.
“They negotiate the community benefits that will be included, whether it’s housing or direct services to the community,” said Marin.
Why this matters now
The push for new members comes at a critical moment for Tampa, with major development projects underway and more potentially on the horizon.
One of the biggest could be a future Rays stadium deal — bringing renewed focus on how public-private partnerships benefit residents.
City leaders say the CBAC ensures those conversations happen early and with community voices at the table.
A model in West Tampa
Projects like Rome Yard in West Tampa are already being pointed to as examples of how community benefits agreements can work.
Joe Robinson, chair of the West Tampa CRA Community Advisory Committee, says those agreements helped shape key decisions in the project.
“This project, because it has a community benefits agreement, had a real serious concern about how much the townhomes would sell for, who they would sell to, and what rents would look like,” said Joe Robinson, West Tampa CRA CAC Chair.
Robinson, who has lived in West Tampa for decades, says the progress has been long overdue.
“It’s taken decades to get something like that done to this site. Decades. It’s a game changer,” said Robinson.
He says the effort is about revitalizing communities that have faced years of disinvestment.
“I’ve been in West Tampa since 1962. I’ve seen it go up and down and all around. We’re trying to rebuild this part of the community,” he added.
Measuring success
Marin says the city has already seen success with multiple community benefits agreements tied to major developments.
“So we have Rome Yard — that’s a very good agreement that supported the community. After that we did Gasworx, and we’ve also done additional community benefits agreements. They’ve been successful in terms of how the community is getting access to services,” said Marin.
He says the biggest takeaway is that residents are helping shape outcomes in a meaningful way.
“Take a look at what we’ve been able to negotiate — how city residents have worked with developers and gotten true benefits for their communities,” said Marin.
How to apply
The city is currently looking for at-large members to serve two-year terms on the CBAC. Applicants should have experience in areas like economic development, finance, housing, or planning, but must live within Tampa city limits.
The deadline to apply is May 11.
City leaders say the opportunity gives residents a direct role in shaping Tampa’s future, ensuring growth benefits not just developers, but the people who call the city home.