Commissioner Murman quoted in this StPetersblog article on recruiting corporate HQs:

The search for recruiting a corporate headquarters to Hillsborough County continues

By Mitch Perry on February 4, 2015

The Tampa Bay area has never been the host of that many major corporations, and definitely not in Hillsborough County. Last year’s list of Fortune 500 companies includes Lakeland-based Publix, Jabil and Raymond James in St. Petersburg, Tech Data in Clearwater, and Blooming’ Brands and WellCare in Tampa.

The effort to lure major corporations to base their headquarters in the city or county has been one of the priorities of the Tampa/Hillsborough County Economic Development Corp. And assisting with that search is Channelside developer Jeff Vinik, who has stated that one of the goals for his master plan to redevelop the south of downtown waterfront area is to include a corporate headquarters.

Last fall the EDC hired San Diego-based Market Enhancement Group (MEG) to conduct what they term a “perception research study” to gauge the attitudes of some 350 Fortune 1000 CEOs to unearth their perceptions of doing business in Tampa/Hillsborough County.

At today’s Board of Hillsborough County Commissioners meeting, EDC head Rick Homans went over some highlights of that study. In reviewing the wishes of what these CEOs desire from a community, it could be deciphered that, like Greta Garbo, they’d just like to be left alone, essentially.

While their number one desire was having state and local leadership that was “pro-business,” three out of the next four top categories included: Absence of unnecessary rules and regulations; lack of bureaucratic interference; and the ease of doing business, defined as “lack of rules that delay progress and projects.”

Under the categories of “vulnerability for Tampa” there were two main takeaways: 1) lack of efficient transportation options, and 2) The ability of out-of-the-area corporate headquarters to attract qualified, skilled employees “is also an issue that needs to be addressed.”

Tampa also got a low rating for a lack of “Class A” or premier office space.

Homans told commissioners that the EDC intends to talk to “many” of the CEOs surveyed to dig deeper into their perceptions of what it would be like to do business in Tampa. Regarding the workforce issue of having quality people in the area or recruited to the area, Homans said that was based more on perception than the facts on the ground would indicate.

Some CEOs said in the study that they would be more likely to enter the area if there were other corporate headquarters already here, leading to what Homans described as a “chicken and egg thing.”

Commissioner Kevin Beckner said perception was reality when it came to the lack of infrastructure and transportation issues in the region. He told Homans that he hopes he’s able to work with the county’s Policy Leadership Group on transit issues this year.

Commission Chair Sandy Murman said Homans should speak to officials with the Hillsborough Planning Commission about the concern about Class A office space, adding that the county has been able to land companies to the region, but that they haven’t been large businesses.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Tribune article on Columbus Drive study:

$5 million sought to make Columbus Drive stretch a two-way road

By Yvette C. Hammett | Tribune Staff
Published: February 3, 2015   |   Updated: February 3, 2015 at 01:51 PM

TAMPA — The cost is up to $5 million for signals to change traffic flow from one-way to both-ways along two streets — the segment of East Columbus Drive from 14th Street to 40th Street and the road that pairs with it.

Members of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Board on Tuesday asked its staff to bring back a list of all possible funding sources for the work, including any available state or federal money.

Turning the one-way stretches to two-way would allow for on-street parking and slow traffic, making it a more business-friendly strip, planners say. The Columbus segment is now one-way east and its partner — called 17th, 18th or 19th avenues along the length it runs — carries westbound traffic.

The proposal is backed by most residents and business owners in the area.

Hillsborough County plans to resurface a portion of both roads in fiscal year 2016, which begins in October, and the city has agreed to stripe the roads. But neither government agency has money for the signalization.

With a county road running through the city, it’s not a clear-cut funding issue.

“I’ve heard from many constituents that say, ‘When is this going to happen and who is going to pay,’ ” said county commission Chairwoman Sandy Murman, who sits on the MPO board. “That’s the problem with these studies. They raise expectations.”

Board members agreed with City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione’s suggestion that the list of potential funding sources go first to the MPO policy committee for review, then come back to the full board. No specific date was set for a later review of the list.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this StPetersBlog article on HART state funding:

By Mitch Perry on February 3, 2015

Showing once again that she’s determined to make a mark on the HART board, board member Kathleen Shanahan expressed frustrations today that she wasn’t aware of any financial requests that the transit agency had made of their local legislative delegation, a month before the 2015 session in Tallahassee.

“I feel like we’re going to miss this opportunity with this surplus in the budget,” Shanahan said, referring to the fact that the state has a one billion dollar budget surplus going into the session.

HART CEO Katharine Eagan said in fact she had met with several state legislators or their staffs recently about acquiring more state funding to help pay for a regional fare card.  HART will begin installing smart card readers on all of its buses beginning this spring to use with the new fare cards.

Hillsborough County Commission Chair Sandy Murman chimed in, saying that the HART board is the only one she’s currently serving on where she has not received a copy of the legislative agenda. “You’ve got two former legislators (referring to herself and former state Senator and current County Commissioner Les Miller) that carry a lot of influence, and I think I would just like to see a hard copy of what we’re asking for.” She said that would be helpful when talking to delegation members.

Miller said that the board should have been talking to state lawmakers in December, not February.

HART’s lobbyist in Tallahassee is Justin Day with the Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners. Murman suggested that he address the board at their next meeting, which is scheduled to take a place a day before the legislative session commences.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Business Observer article on Tampa Tank expansion:

By: Business Observer

February 02, 2015

TAMPA — Customized steel company Tampa Tank Inc. & Florida Structural Steel is investing more than $18 million in an expansion that is expected to add more than 100 jobs to the Tampa Bay area.

Those positions, which the company says will pay nearly 150% of the state’s average wage, will include 24 at its Ybor City headquarters and another 84 at a refurbished manufacturing facility it’s leasing in Gibsonton’s Port Redwing.

The new port, part of land acquired by the Port of Tampa in 2012, will be home to a new 120,000-square-foot building the company is planning to build there. Tampa Tank also will retrofit its existing 40,000-square-foot building in Ybor.

“Manufacturing jobs are vitally important to Hillsborough County, so the announcement of Tampa Tank’s expansion is an exciting and important milestone for our community,” Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman said, in a release.

The project was put together through a partnership between the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp., and city and county government officials. That partnership offered Tampa Tank with a package of state and loan incentives totaling a little more than $2 million.

The incentives prevented Tampa Tank from looking elsewhere for expansion, according to a release, including a possible site in The Bahamas.

Tampa Tank was founded in 1953, providing customized design, repair and fabrication of welded steel products to customers nationally and globally. It acquired Florida Structural Steel in 1984.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Tribune article on the Ruskin gymnasium:

South Shore News

Ruskin area kids to get new gymnasium, construction begins

BY DOUG ARNOLD
Special Correspondent
Published: January 28, 2015

RUSKIN – The Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department recently broke ground for the new Ruskin Recreation Center in a public program attended by Hillsborough County officials, civic leaders and community representatives.

Located at 901 Sixth St. SE, the center is under construction adjacent to Beaudette Park. The $1.7 million facility will include a 7,000-square-foot gymnasium and recreational space and be equipped with a multi-purpose room and gym equipment storage for youth, adult and senior activities.

The indoor gym will allow for expanded athletic and recreational programming for youths, adults and seniors, plus adult and youth athletic leagues. Completion of the structure is expected later this year.

“This is a tremendous resource that will be a fun and safe environment for families and children,” said Stacy White, Hillsborough County commissioner representing the Ruskin area. He added the facility will be an important gathering place for the Ruskin community and noted he grew up in the area and graduated from East Bay High School. “I played on these fields as a kid.”

The backdrop for the groundbreaking was alive with construction workers busy preparing to pour the foundation of the building.

“Today the county continues to demonstrate our commitment to the children and families of the South Shore region of Hillsborough County,” said County Deputy Administrator Greg Horwedel. “This new building offers the promise of a brighter future for our friends, neighbors and businesses in Ruskin.”

Commissioner Sandra Murman agreed.

“One of the best investments for our people is in our parks,” she said. “There is tremendous growth in Ruskin right now, and this center is one of many projects coming out of the ground.”

Murman reminded a crowd of approximately 50 well-wishers that there are considerable opportunities for even greater partnerships in the future.

“Not only does this contribute to additional construction jobs, but it means growth and added resources for neighborhood families,” she said.

Jean Gaylord, Ruskin community volunteer, said she was “as excited as a child with a new candy store.” She said the Ruskin facility staff play a unique and important role in helping raise the neighborhood kids.

“Our town is growing and prospering,” she said. “It continues to grow as a diverse and wonderful place to live for young families.”

“Many of life’s great lessons happen on our ball fields and gyms,” added Commissioner Ken Hagen. “After-school activities, summer programs, health programs for seniors and team sports all help to better connect our citizens.”

Funding for the new rec center was gained from the consolidation of 43 smaller centers into 12 enhanced neighborhood centers. The County Commission approved five new programs in 2012 for Gardenville, Palm River, Progress Village, Town ‘N Country and Ruskin.

Dee Fridella, Ruskin Neighborhood Service Center manager, said the center plays a vital role serving working families with children.

“We attract a wide variety of partnerships with nonprofit agencies and youth sports programs essential for after-school and summertime childhood education,” she said.

The park presently provides outdoor basketball, softball, a fitness room, summer camps and other activities for small children, teens, and seniors.

Freelance writer Douglas Arnold can be reached at bylinedouglasarnold@aol.com.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Bay Times article on Medicaid expansion:

Tampa Bay business groups and political leaders push for Medicaid expansion

JODIE TILLMAN Tampa Bay Times

Wednesday, January 28, 2015 6:54pm

ST. PETERSBURG — Though Florida’s incoming House speaker appeared Wednesday to squash Medicaid expansion for a third year in a row, supporters of a new plan to extend health coverage to the working poor say they believe events are lining up in their favor.

Bruce Rueben, president of the Florida Hospital Association, noted at the Bay Area Mayors Conference on Wednesday that the business community, including the powerful Florida Chamber of Commerce, has now mobilized to support covering nearly 800,000 uninsured adults.

That’s a marked change from the past two legislative sessions, in which House Republican leaders quickly shot down appeals from hospitals and advocates for the poor.

“Now the Legislature has to take this more seriously,” Rueben told attendees. If it doesn’t, “they’re having to say ‘no,’ to the very base they count on to get elected.”

The conference was put on by A Healthy Florida Works, a broad business coalition that has put together what it calls a “free-market” proposal to accept about $50 billion in federal funding to help pay for private insurance.

Other GOP-led states are starting to come around on expansion, a cornerstone of President Obama’s health care reform law. On Tuesday, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence announced plans to expand Medicaid after winning concessions from the Obama administration. His move could give other states a model to follow.

Under the agreement, Indiana can require some Medicaid enrollees to contribute toward their care. A Healthy Florida Works’ plan also includes cost-sharing requirements.

Keynote speaker Jason Altmire, senior vice president of Florida Blue and a former congressman, noted Wednesday that Pence is “no liberal.”

“If Gov. Pence can find a way to make it work for the residents of Indiana, there’s no reason we can’t find a way to make it work for the citizens of Florida,” he said.

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling made expanding Medicaid optional for states. Florida House Republicans have refused to accept the federal funds, citing philosophical objections and fears that the state would be stuck with too much of the costs. That refusal has left nearly 800,000 low-income Floridians in a coverage gap.

Ripple effects could affect the entire state budget. Florida stands to lose an estimated $1.3 billion in funding this year to help hospitals treat poor and uninsured patients. Without Medicaid expansion money, legislators could be forced to borrow from other programs, Rueben said.

“The price of just saying ‘no’ is much higher for the Legislature than it has been in the past,” he said.

In Tallahassee on Wednesday, Senate President Andy Gardiner seemed to acknowledge as much, saying he would be open to discussing expansion. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said he didn’t plan to do anything on expansion but later added: “I am a never-say-never kind of guy.”

Speakers at Wednesday’s A Healthy Florida Works conference in St. Petersburg, meanwhile, urged attendees to contact their legislators.

“Don’t call it ‘Medicaid expansion,’ ” University of South Florida public health professor Jay Wolfson said. He recommended calling it health care expansion because Medicaid has negative connotations in Tallahassee.

Three mayors — Tampa’s Bob Buckhorn, St. Petersburg’s Rick Kreisman and Clearwater’s George Cretekos — spoke at the event and later signed a letter supporting expansion plans.

“This is not a political issue,” Buckhorn said. “This is a quality of life issue.”

The mayors are among a growing group of bipartisan local officials who want the Legislature to accept the federal dollars. The Pinellas County Commission has named Medicaid expansion as one of the county’s top five priorities for this session because it would alleviate the demand on county money for health care. A bipartisan majority of the Hillsborough County Commission favors accepting federal dollars to expand coverage.

“Any help they can give us would be appreciated because of that cost impact to our local community that might keep us from doing other programs,” said Commissioner Sandra Murman, a Republican and former state lawmaker.

Times staff writer Tony Marrero and Times/Herald writer Kathleen McGrory contributed to this report. Contact Jodie Tillman at jtillman@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3374. Follow @jtillmantimes.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Tribune article on Tampa Tank expansion:

Business News

Steel company expands at Tampa port, creates 108 new jobs

By Yvette C. Hammett | Tribune Staff
Published: January 27, 2015

TAMPA — A steel company with local roots and an international reach is expanding, adding 108 jobs and investing $18 million in a new facility on Port Tampa Bay property.

Tampa Tank Inc. and Florida Structural Steel plans to construct a 120,000 square-foot building at Port Redwing and retrofit an existing 40,000 square-foot building there. The company will add 24 jobs at its headquarters in Ybor City and 84 jobs at Port Redwing.

“Today’s announcement signifies Tampa Tank’s strong commitment to our community and the remarkable success our company is enjoying nationally and globally,” Tampa Tank CEO David Hale said in a press release Tuesday. “We appreciate the strong support we’ve received from our public and private partners, particularly Port Tampa Bay.”

Last year, Hale talked about the success his company has had with exports, something Port Tampa Bay is working to bolster. Tampa Tank exported some $60 million in steel products in 2013, doubling the company’s exports in just five years.

The company that builds and exports steel petroleum tanks, some the size of a football field, has regional offices in Panama, Guatamala, the Bahamas and Colombia and ships tanks as far away as Africa and the Middle East.

Port Tampa Bay will lease the company two buildings at Port Redwing, located near the Hillsborough-Manatee county line. The buildings will be used to fabricate steel and iron structures for export.

The new jobs will pay nearly 150 percent of the state’s average wage, according to the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp.

This announcement is good news for Port Tampa Bay, said Port President and CEO Paul Anderson. “Tampa Tank has long been a supporter of the Tampa community and Port Tampa Bay. We are excited for their growth and expansion. We look forward to supporting them for years to come.”

Tampa Tank was established in 1953 and acquired Florida Steel in 1984.

“Manufacturing jobs are vitally important to Hillsborough County, so the announcement of Tampa Tank’s expansion is an exciting and important milestone for our community,” said Hillsborough County Commission Chair Sandy Murman. “We’ve proven once again that we can provide the leadership, business assistance and work force that growing firms like Tampa Tank need to prosper here,” she said in a press release. “We look forward to seeing Port Redwing’s transformation and supporting the growth of Tampa Tank” and the port.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn called the project “a big win for Tampa, for Port Tampa Bay and for our local residents who will secure high-wage jobs at Tampa Tank’s Ybor City headquarters and Port Redwing.” He said this project will kick off a revitalization at Port Redwing, which has been sitting vacant for years.

The project is the result of a partnership with the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp., the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County, which provided state and local incentives totalling $2 million. The company had been considering expanding in the Bahamas.

The economic corporation brokered an agreement with the county to give Tampa Tank a 50 percent property tax credit, which amounts to $778,785 over seven years. And because the property has been designated a brownfield, the company will get another 25 percent property tax credit for redeveloping the site. A brownfield is a previously developed site that may or may not have environmental cleanup associated with it.

The company also gets incentives for employee pay under the state’s Qualified Target Industries program. The qualifying wage is $50,000. The company will receive $8,000 per Ybor City job, with the county and city paying 20 percent of that. The company will receive $7,500 per job for the 84 Port Redwing positions, or $630,000 total, with the county picking up 20 percent and the state paying the remainder.

Port Tampa Bay is working to create a cluster of steel producers at Port Redwing and Port Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Raul Alfonso has said he’s been busy shopping for other businesses that would be compatible with the property. He expects to have another company on board within the next few months.

Tampa Tank signed a 20-year lease with the port.

Commissioner Murman listed as #7 on people to watch in a rebounding Bay Area economy:

In 2015, watch these people in a rebounding Tampa Bay economy

• Robert Trigaux, Times Business Columnist

ROBERT TRIGAUXTampa Bay Times

Friday, January 2, 2015 6:00am

Look for 2015 to kick-start the Tampa Bay economy from the get go, with a flurry of announcements of new business expansions and promises of more jobs. Watch these folks in particular, all focused on making things better in the new year:

1. Suzanne McCormick, CEO of United Way Suncoast. Since her Tampa arrival from Maine in September, she’s put an unapologetic spotlight on corporate giving here, publicizing companies that are big United Way givers and, by omission, those that do less. Several United Ways in the state also issued an important report in November that found a startling 45 percent, or 3.2 million, of all households in Florida cannot afford basic housing, child care, food, health care and transportation. In a seven-county Tampa Bay area, that affects more than 600,000 households. What steps might McCormick conjure in 2015 to help ease the plight of such a large and overlooked portion of the community?

2. Brian Lamb, chairman, Tampa Bay Partnership. Within days of Lamb stepping in as 2015 chair of the Tampa Bay Partnership, this metro area’s regional business marketing organization, longtime Partnership CEO Stuart Rogel agreed to step down after 20 years at the helm. Now Lamb, a regional president here of Ohio’s Fifth Third Bank, and the Partnership board will pursue a national search to find a successor who can refresh the marketing group’s relevance. With strong ambitions by other area groups to grow and attract corporate headquarters, 2015 will be a critical year for the still vaguely perceived Tampa Bay metro area to sharpen its definition in the eyes of Corporate America and beyond.

3. Bryan Cranston, actor and pop culture phenom as Walter White character in Breaking Bad TV series. Not only is the actor starring in a thriller movie to be shot (in part) this spring in Tampa and Hillsborough County. But the film itself — The Infiltrator — features Cranston’s role as former Tampa federal undercover agent Bob Mazur, based on his compelling book about infiltrating the Medellin drug cartel as an international banker with money laundering skills. Cranston’s cultlike following will elevate public attention for Tampa Hillsborough Film and Digital Media Commission chief Dale Gordon’s push for more films and more state funding — whichever comes first.

4. Tod Leiweke and Jac Sperling, top advisers to Jeff Vinik’s massive redevelopment project in downtown Tampa. Here are two smart advisers that have Vinik’s ear. Leiweke may be CEO of Vinik’s Tampa Bay Lightning but he is no less involved in the vast 40-acre redevelopment project for downtown Tampa. Sperling is part of Vinik’s Strategic Property Partners LLC group leading the redevelopment effort. Combined, this is the core triumvirate.

5. Debbie Dooley, co-founder of Atlanta Tea Party and Green Tea Coalition. The activist for energy choice in Florida will hold four town halls in praise of solar energy in January and February and push for competition in an industry of monopoly electric utilities. Dooley also will consider a ballot initiative to open up the market for solar and may seek to repeal the tangible property tax on solar, restructure the Florida PSC and push for third-party financing/leasing of solar. Also on the 2015 agenda: Developing a “Utility Customers Bill of Rights.” That’s just for starters. Look out, Duke Energy Florida. Look out, Florida PSC.

6. Brian Auld, president, Tampa Bay Rays. The ink on his new business cards as Rays team “president” had barely dried before he alienated the St. Petersburg City Council. That flub required the soothing political intervention of veteran predecessor Matt Silverman, who’s now supposed to be focused on building a viable Rays team on the field. Let’s chalk up the performance of Auld, with his Harvard and Stanford degrees, to early jitters in a new gig. Look for sharper Auld leadership on the hunt for a new stadium in 2015.

7. Sandra Murman, chairwoman, Hillsborough County Commission. In November, she was sworn in as chairwoman of the commission and now faces a year with a long laundry list from her community. What happens when the desire for funding for another try at a mass transit plan bumps up against money needs for a possible Tampa Bay Rays stadium or the financial demands for a host of projects spawned by bullish county and Tampa leadership? It helps that the economy is on the upswing, but Murman will need to be very creative to keep diverse constituents reasonably happy.

8. Chris Minner, vice president of marketing, Tampa International Airport. He’s one of the “can-do” guys behind TIA chief Joe Lopano, helping deliver new direct flights to Tampa Bay’s primary airport. The latest coup is Germany’s Lufthansa, which will start flights to Frankfurt in 2015. Other wins include Tampa flights to Cuba, Switzerland, Panama City (Panama) via Copa Airlines, and even Seattle. Every flight not only sweetens TIA’s appeal to more passengers, but also catches the eye of nonstop-fixated corporations contemplating where next to expand.

9. Sri Sridharan, managing director, USF’s Florida Center for Cybersecurity. What’s one of the fastest rising skill sets in demand in this country? Just ask the folks at Target, Home Depot, Neiman Marcus, Bebe Stores and, most recently in the news, Sony. There are dozens of other business victims and federal, state and local governments are plenty paranoid about safeguarding their computer files. Sridharan’s challenge is to secure enough funding and develop a depth of expertise for USF to justify its “Florida Center for Cybersecurity” name. It’s fast becoming a very competitive game.

10. Susan Martinez, executive vice president and Florida regional president, IberiaBank. The rare woman bank CEO, Martinez honed her skills at major area banks for years before leading an impressive turnaround as top executive at the seriously struggling Florida Bank in downtown Tampa. Now comes Louisiana-based IberiaBank Corp., which paid $90 million to buy Florida Bank, grabbed a toehold in this metro market, and chose Martinez to build its fresh presence in Florida.

11. Dr. Charles Lockwood, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the USF Morsani College of Medicine. Talk about timing. Soon afterhe was named med school dean, USF opts to move its medical college and other health assets from the main Tampa campus to downtown Tampa as part of Jeff Vinik’s ambitious redevelopment project near the Amalie Arena. That relocation, still a few years off, should empower Lockwood to recruit doctors keen on a cool, urban live-and-work habitat. And it should strengthen ties between the school and Tampa General Hospital. TGH soon will be a brief water taxi’s ride away from the school’s new location.

12. Peter Kageyama, urban activist and author. His For the Love of Cities book of 2011 was a hometown hit. On Jan. 6, he unveils his sequel — Love Where You Live: Creating Emotionally Engaging Places. Kageyama, who has counseled mayors on both sides of the bay and beyond, calls it a practical “how to” book for community leaders, a playbook for building roads, public spaces, even public art. It is, he says, a way for folks to be “intentional” about emotional engagement and translate their city passion into real outcomes.

13. Dr. Jackie Dixon, dean, USF College of Marine Science. Two little letters: BP. Five little words: Largest spill in nation’s history. The college recently won a $20 million grant by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative to analyze the ongoing effects of the 2010 BP oil spill. USF smartly wants to take a lead role in this long-term disaster, as it should. “Data, analyses and models of the fate and effects of the (BP) and similar oil spills will enable the nation and the world to be better prepared in the advent of a similar oil well blowout,” says Dixon. Big picture? Look for “marine science” to become a major St. Petersburg industry in the coming years.

14. David Downing interim CEO, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. He’s still competing for the actual CEO job (we’re down to two candidates with more interviews this month) left open by departed chief D.T. Minich. Let’s go out on a limb here and presume Downing, who grew up in St. Petersburg, gets this important job as chief of tourism marketing for Pinellas County. Pinellas tourism keeps rising thanks to clever advertising and state backing of the many “Come To Florida” messages playing up north this winter. Just remember: It’s tricky becoming CEO of an organization already setting tourism records. What do you do for an encore?

15. Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and billionaire investor. It’s hard to stress often enough the role of Gates’ distant but formidable influence on the Tampa Bay economy. His willingness (through his Cascade Investment firm) to fund a significant portion of Jeff Vinik’s 40-acre downtown Tampa redevelopment project is an influential marketing coup for the Tampa Bay area. Nor is it his only stake here. Via a $100 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Hillsborough public schools are revamping their teacher evaluation system. And in December, Pinellas public schools secured $560,000 from the Gates Foundation to train educators in a new “personalized learning” way of teaching. All of that amounts to a whole lot of Gates’ commitment to the Tampa Bay area. People and businesses will notice.

Contact Robert Trigaux at rtrigaux@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8405. Follow @venturetampabay.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Tribune article on Apollo Beach:

South Shore News

Project is putting the beach back in Apollo Beach

BY DOUG ARNOLD
Special Correspondent
Published: January 22, 2015

The wheels of heavy equipment are turning as the Beach Restoration Project in Apollo Beach begins. Flores and Harper, a full-service general contractor, is now on-site and moving forward with the four-month project of shoreline restoration.

Bids recently went out for the upcoming dredging operation to be reviewed in early February and then be awarded later in the month, said Len Berkstresser, president of the all-volunteer nonprofit Apollo Beach Waterway Improvement Group, aka ABWIG.

“In addition to the bids, final permits are under review, and we anticipate all the approvals in hand within about 30 days,” he said.

The ABWIG spokesman said the earliest dredging would begin around April 1, with the hope that the Apollo Beach Nature Park could re-open as early as Memorial Day.

“We started this effort four years ago, and it has been a great community effort,” Berkstresser said. “It’s a great feeling to see things now in the works.”

Ross Dickerson, environmental lands manager with the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department confirmed work is underway.

“The contractor has completed construction of the T-groin at the northern extent of the beach and the breakwater just south of that,” he said. “They are currently working on the two subsequent breakwaters to the south and should have those completed by the end of the month.”

The preserve was closed in late 2014 by Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation to limit public access during the restoration work.

The project will reclaim beach sand through the dredging of three channels connecting Apollo Beach to Tampa Bay. Eight breakwaters will be constructed by the county. The breakwaters will be parallel to the western shore and a jetty off the North Channel will significantly reduce wave action, minimizing future beach erosion and reducing sediment in the channel. More than 11,000 cubic yards of sand will be dredged to create a 2-acre beach.

The county is also building a series of seven rock barricades known as “revetments” standing between 6 and 8 feet tall and up to 40 feet in length in front of the beach. They and the “T-groin” jetty will help minimize future beach erosion.

The project also focuses on dune restoration in and around the nature preserve that includes development of a living shoreline.

The new and improved beach environment will feature native flora, a rebuilt pedestrian walkway and a roadway.

❖ ❖ ❖

Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandra Murman has helped push through the project since its inception.

“Restoring the channels and beach at Apollo Beach is one of the most important projects in South County at present,” she said. “I am excited to have the pristine shoreline, rolling sand dunes and salty, white sandy beaches back again.”

Murman said this will be a boon for local residents and businesses as it draws visitors from all over.

“This is something the South County economy has needed for a long time to promote ecotourism.”

Bringing back the beach is dream come true for many in the community.

“The beach restoration project at the nature preserve in Apollo Beach will benefit (us) in multiple ways,” said Ron Simpson, a broker associate with Weichert Realtors Yates & Associates. “First, it will restore the beach to Apollo Beach for the benefit of both the fishing crowd and those who just like to walk the beach; secondly, the dredging of the (channels), which is providing the sand to ‘restore’ the beach will improve access for the boating community.”

Dickerson emphasized the project should have no impact on marine life or to the manatees that migrate to TECO’s Big Bend Power Plant each winter.

“This is a rigorous permit process with federal and state agencies,” Dickerson said, noting that from the reduction in wave energy from the breakwaters, sea grass will flourish and help a whole marine habitat in the area to prosper.

Berkstresser agrees.

“When the project is completed it will be a boon to wildlife, especially fishing,” he said. “The breakwaters will stimulate oysters, barnacles and other shellfish, which will attract more fish.”

He thinks within one or two years, the fishing in Apollo Beach should see dramatic increases.

The estimated completion date of phase one is April 30, but Dickerson said he is optimistic it will be completed sooner. The beach area and preserve will continue to be closed for safety in and around the construction site.

Berkstresser anticipates phase two will be completed around the end of May.

The current budget for the project is $770,843.

“To date, that budget remains the same, but there will be additional funding necessary to compensate for the unexpected presence of seagrass in the construction footprint that required additional permitting, design changes, and time necessary to complete the project,” Dickerson said.

The Hillsborough County Commission unanimously voted a $1.3 million allocation in 2014 for the restoration project. South Shore businesses and other Hillsborough County organizations contributed nearly $250,000 toward the project cost. The additional $1.5 million investment is a partnership between Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation and ABWIG, including major donors such as Tampa Electric Company, Mosaic Company, Apollo Beach homeowners associations, real estate brokers, boating groups and individuals from the region.

Additional resources to maintain the waterway channels are needed to ensure future care and maintenance planned during phase two of the overall project. ABWIG will continue to seek contributions throughout 2015.

The public is invited to A Tapas & Tasting fundraiser to take place at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Apollo’s Bistro, 6520 Richies Way, Apollo Beach. Guests will experience a five-course tapas menu, and select wines will be paired with the food. The cost is $40 per person, with proceeds going to benefit the restoration project. Seating is limited. Call (813) 641-2685 or visit www.ab wig.org.