Updated Innovation Ecosystem Map now available
ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Innovation Ecosystem Map 2025 update project has been completed and the maps are available to the public.
The Tampa Bay Innovation Ecosystem Map was created as an easy-to-use visual guide for entrepreneurs to navigate the region’s network of support organizations with respect to their funding, coaching, and partnership and other needs and to the company’s stage of growth, industry focus, target customers and more.
The map was developed through surveys and interviews of over 100 support organizations.
A group of support organizations, led by the St. Pete Innovation District and fueled by a grant from Duke Energy, developed both the first version of this map in 2023 and the updated version in 2025.
Printed copies are now available, and the digital version is posted on our website:
https://www.stpeteinnovationdistrict.com/projects/innovation-ecosystem-map
St. Petersburg adopts ‘YIGBY’ to aid housing needs
The St. Petersburg City Council recently approved an ordinance adopting the ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’ (YIGBY) provision into city code, empowering the city to work with local faith communities to increase opportunities to build affordable housing. St. Petersburg is the first local government entity in the state to adopt this provision following the passage of SB 1730 (2025).
Mayor Kenneth Welch first called for this provision in 2024 in an open letter in The Weekly Challenger and has worked with local legislators to secure its passage.
“This reflects our commitment to thinking creatively and pursuing every innovative approach to expand affordable housing in St. Petersburg,” said City Council Chair Copley Gerdes.
“Across Florida, many faith-based groups own well-located, underutilized land that could be transformed into desperately needed affordable homes. Recognizing this potential, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 1730, giving localities a new discretionary tool that empowers religious institutions to meet their communities’ housing needs by building homes in their own backyards. Now, a little over five months after YIGBY became law, St. Petersburg has stepped up to be the first locality in Florida to formally activate this new affordable housing tool. Once again, St. Pete is setting the pace on local housing policy, and they deserve major credit for their leadership,” said Florida Housing Coalition Chief Legal and Policy Director Kody Glazer.
The city’s Office of Community Impact is supporting this ordinance through the development of a new program that combines education and individualized support to engage local houses of worship in affordable housing opportunities. This program will help set up participants for success by offering feasible development pathways and educating on how to build lasting capacity for faith-based affordable housing projects.
The new program will also provide direct technical assistance to interested faith-based organizations. This one-on-one support can include facilitating readiness assessments, screening sites for early feasibility, advising on partner selection and deal structures, helping with predevelopment planning and budgeting, guiding navigation of City regulatory processes, and producing congregation-specific action plans.
SPC graduates more than 1,100
Some 1,177 students recently graduated from St. Petersburg College at its 148th commencement ceremony at The BayCare Sound.
Graduates included first-time college students, working adults, veterans, and returning learners, with 373 earning their first college degree in their families.
Many graduates are moving directly into the next chapter: 415 plan to continue their education, 160 are starting new jobs, 57 are launching or growing businesses and five will enter military service.
Graduate spotlights included a deaf health care professional transitioning into medical coding, a U.S. Army veteran launching a photography business and health sciences graduates beginning careers close to home.