C
learwater
Reinventing the Gulf Coast...
CLEARWATER SPONSORED BY:
CITY OF CLEARWATER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 112 S. Osceola Avenue P.O. Box 4748 Clearwater, FL 33758-4748 727.562.4054 727.562.4075 (fax) www.myclearwater.com
PUBLISHED BY:
PROMOTION MAGAZINE
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able of Contents
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Mayor’s Letter
a division of RENI Publishing’s
JournaI Florida Real Estate
Jim Phillips Publisher jphillips@frej.net
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Clearwater at a Glance
150 Third Street, SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880
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Introduction
800.274.2812
10 Clearwater Metro Area 12
www.frej.net
DESIGNED BY:
Clearwater Beach T H E
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N I S S E N
G R O U P
Downtown Clearwater
16 Sport, Culture & Education 19 Support & Incentives
Ron Palfrey Director of Creative Services rpalfrey@thenissengroup.com
Mami Li Designer mli@thenissengroup.com
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The mention of Clearwater likely conjures up visions of sun, surf and sand. It may be dreams of springtime baseball, spectacular sunsets and warm Gulf of Mexico waters.Visitors have been flocking to our beaches since the 1920s for a little taste of paradise, but our beachfront community has grown up a lot since then.What was once a part-time vacation destination is today a full-time center of commerce, government and industry. The last few years have been a period of extraordinary growth and revitalization for Clearwater. Public investments are paving the way for a renaissance for the city’s downtown and beaches, and a metro-area population of more than 2.5-million continues to breathe life and innovation in to Clearwater’s commercial and industrial corridors. In downtown and the beach alone, new developments promise to bring over 800 new hotel rooms, 1,000 residential units and 300,000 square feet of new retail/office space.And Clearwater offers a variety of assistance and incentive programs that can help you find the right location to grow. Our economic development team is ready to help. Where else can you close a deal, catch a few innings of Spring Training baseball and unwind with a spectacular beach sunset, all in the same day? When you’re making a decision about where to locate your business, why settle for a week’s vacation in the Florida sun when you can live it year-round? I invite you to learn more, and find your spot in the sun.You’ll be glad you did.
Frank Hibbard, Mayor 6
Incorporated: Form of Government: Elected Officials: Land Area: Downtown Area: Population: Metro Area Population: Total Households: Average Age: Diversity: Median Household Income: Median Home Price: Area Colleges & Universities: Municipal Parks:
1915 Council-Manager Mayor and four at-large Councilmembers 25.5 square miles 488 acres 110,831 2.7 million 49,357 41
74% White, 13% Hispanic/Latino 10% African American, 3% other $42,946 $185,000 4 1,160 acres
Recreation Centers:
7
Libraries:
5
Golf Courses:
3
Fire Stations:
8
Health Care:
16 Hospitals countywide
Taxes:
Clearwater
No personal income tax 4.6777 city property tax millage Sources: US Census Data, Claritas and 2005 American Communities Survey
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No matter what your business is, Clearwater can provide the right setting for success. While generations of visitors have come to Clearwater for the spectacular beaches and local attractions, 110,000 residents have decided that it's the place they want to stay. Why? Because of the outstanding quality of life, robust business community and central location to all of Tampa Bay. Over 10,000 business call Clearwater home, from independent contractors to major regional employers, hotels and health care systems. If you're looking for a home for your business, you'll find that Clearwater is much more than a tourist destination, though the sunny, warm year-round weather and abundance of recreational activities certainly helps keep employees healthy and happy. In fact, our combination of sports, parks and recreational activities led Sports Illustrated to name Clearwater as the top "Sports Town USA" in all of Florida. You'll see major redevelopment activity that's transforming the city's business, residential and retail landscape, including a revitalized tourist infrastructure and major urban mixed-use development downtown. Housing options range from luxury beachfront condominiums and urban city homes to historic bungalows and lush, modern subdivisions. Commercial realty shows the same diversity, with two major commercial corridors, several industrial parks, walkable downtown boutique space and - of course - tourism-driven retail and entertainment fueled by a $30-million beachfront redevelopment plan. Clearwater's Economic Development Department is ready to help you identify the right opportunity for your business, and can help personally guide you through the process. The city has a variety of incentive and credit programs that can help to offset start-up costs, improve existing storefronts, develop mixed-use projects or even clean up properties for reuse. Read on, and learn more about the exciting opportunities here in Clearwater, where "sunny" applies to our business climate as much as our weather. Once you've learned more, call or e-mail us to discuss your needs. It's a historic time for Clearwater, and we'd like you to join us as we reinvent the Gulf Coast. 8
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1. BEACH WALK
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each & Downtown Development Projects
2. CLEVELAND STREETSCAPE 3. HYATT CLEARWATER BEACH 4. SANDPEARL RESORT & SPA 5. STATION SQUARE CONDOMINIUMS 6. THE STRAND AT CLEARWATER CENTRE 7. WATER’S EDGE 9
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The Clearwater metro area includes one of the top tourist destinations in Florida, as well as a resurgent downtown, major retail corridors and a considerable industrial district. Each provides a unique opportunity for your business, based on your individual needs and desires. And the city lies central to both Tampa and St. Petersburg, expanding your potential reach to 3 million residents and 5 million annual visitors. For travel- or shipping-intensive businesses, two international airports are just minutes away, and getting to the busy Port of Tampa is a short 20-minute drive. The St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport has tripled its number of non-stop destinations since 2006, earning the reputation of "your hometown connection." Direct flights to the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and Canada are less than 10 minutes from your door. Fifteen minutes to the east, Tampa International Airport serves destinations worldwide and is recognized as one of the most efficient in the world. For more information, turn to the "Community Profile" section at the end of this book.
CLEARWATER BEACH Clearwater Beach has been recognized as the best city beach on the Gulf of Mexico, and is one of the top tourist destinations in Florida. Clearwater Beach and Sand Key, just to the south, have seen major residential growth in the last 10 years.The city's "Beach by Design" redevelopment plan has led to major infrastructure investment, beautification and several new hotel properties, with even more in development.You can learn more on pages 12-13. 10
DOWNTOWN CLEARWATER, CRA AND EAST GATEWAY Sitting on a 30-foot bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor, downtown was once the center of activity for all of Pinellas County.Today, developers have rediscovered the magic of downtown and have invested in several large-scale residential/retail developments in and around the downtown core. As a designated Community Redevelopment Area, the downtown area offers special incentives for destination-based mixed-use projects with retail, restaurants and shops. More details on downtown are on pages 14-15.
US 19, MCMULLEN-BOOTH ROAD AND GULF-TO-BAY CORRIDORS The major North/South and East/West corridors through Clearwater are perfect locations for businesses that depend on high traffic counts and quick access to major regional transportation arteries. More than 80,000 commuters travel US 19 on a daily basis, connecting St. Petersburg to the south with the residential areas of north Pinellas County and Pasco County to the north. As the major connector between the mainland, downtown and Clearwater Beach, Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard sees as many as 60,000 vehicles each day - a combination of tourists and commuters.
HERCULES INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR Located in central Clearwater and adjacent to Clearwater Executive Airpark, this is the industrial "center" of Clearwater and is home to major manufacturers like Aerosonic Corporation and F.K. Instrument Company. High-tech manufacturers are realizing the benefits of a talented pool of local employees and burgeoning medical and engineering programs at the University of South Florida. Industrial trades benefit, too, from a highly skilled labor force supported by the Pinellas Technical Education Centers.
Mention Clearwater anywhere in the world, and someone is likely to have a personal story about their visit to Clearwater Beach. For more than 50 years, the beach has been the star of Pinellas County’s tourism industry, drawing millions of visitors each year. Like many Florida communities, the infrastructure, roads and small motels along the beach had begun to show their age when, in the late 1990s, Clearwater embarked on an ambitious redevelopment strategy to revitalize the destination for a new generation of visitors. The plan, Beach by Design, has been instrumental in guiding public investments on 12
the beach and attracting new hotel development that is redefining the destination. The cornerstone of the plan is Beach Walk, a $30-million roadway, parking and pedestrian improvement that brings visitors closer to the beach and extends the visitor experience beyond the sugary white sand.When complete, a winding pedestrian walkway, lush landscaping and interactive touches will blend seamlessly with both the beach and new hotel developments nearby. Hotel density incentives have already been fully claimed, as the city anticipates the addition of more than 800 new, modern hotel rooms in
Sandpearl Resort & Spa
three major developments. One, the Sandpearl Resort and Spa, has already opened to rave reviews by both residents and visitors. It’s also Clearwater’s first LEED-Certified resort facility.Along the south end of the beach, construction continues on the 250 - suite Hyatt Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa, with anticipated completion by late-2009.A third project is currently in design and that plans to add over 350 new hotel units next door to the Hyatt. Each presents new opportunities for visitor-oriented businesses to succeed. Events at the beach - including Spring Break, the Ford Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Outback Bowl festivities and the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival – draw thousands of visitors each year.These events, along with the nearby Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Clearwater Beach Marina, are what led the Travel Channel to name Clearwater one of the “Top 10 Activity Beaches” in the world. All of this is designed to make Clearwater Beach more attractive for our residents and our
visitors, and provides significant retail/restaurant/entertainment opportunities throughout the district.We invite you to visit and see the progress for yourself.You can also get photo updates, links to information and live video feeds at www.myclearwater.com/beachwalk.
Throughout the nation, baby boomers and young professionals are migrating back to America’s cities, attracted by the ease and convenience of urban living. Clearwater is seeing its own downtown resurgence, with more than 1,000 new residences planned within the downtown core, along with over 300,000 square feet of new retail/office space. So what makes Clearwater different? It’s easy…Where else can you enjoy all of the benefits of a walkable urban lifestyle and still be just five minutes from one of the world’s best beaches? Clearwater’s waterfront downtown is one of its most attractive and unique assets. Sitting atop a 30-foot bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor, the downtown combines the best of waterfront living with a walkable urban setting. At the foot of the bluff lies Coachman Park, home to Clearwater Jazz Holiday and other events that draw tens of thousands to the downtown each year.Thanks to a voter referendum in 2007, you can add a new, 129-slip public marina to the list of downtown amenities in 2009. 14
A new, $10 million streetscape project is redefining the city’s downtown destination, Cleveland Street, which is envisioned as the central café and retail district for the area. Three new mixed-use residential projects and a proposed retail complex/apartment homes development along Cleveland Street are adding to the excitement. Businesses and developers who choose to locate in the downtown have the benefit of support through the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the Downtown Development Board, an independent taxing authority focused on supporting local businesses. Clearwater Main Street hosts a number of downtown events throughout the year, and the Clearwater Downtown Farmer’s Market has become a popular midweek destination for locals and tourists. Progress has been fueled by a downtown redevelopment plan that offers guidelines for design and development, as well as density incentives for developers interested in building high-quality mixed-use projects.The
plan aims to preserve Clearwater’s historic appeal, while incorporating modern amenities that appeal to today’s consumers and homeowners. “I think we realized early on that downtown Clearwater had huge unrealized potential,” says Bill West, Real Estate Manager for Opus South, Inc., developer of the 157-unit Water’s Edge Condominium and retail complex. “In my opinion, it offers one of the best locations and some of the best scenery in the state. And city officials have been extremely helpful throughout the process.” In addition to Water’s Edge, Station Square Condominiums will add 126 condominium homes, 100 public parking spaces and 10,000 square feet of flexible retail/restaurant space right in the heart of the Cleveland Street District. In all, more than a dozen projects have been recently completed or are in various stages of development, including the restoration of Clearwater’s historic telephone exchange building. When you combine the surging local residential population with the thousands of daily visitors to Clearwater, the possibilities for new businesses are growing daily. “We envision Cleveland Street as a complement to our beach destination, providing a new alternative for our visitors and residents. It extends Clearwater’s appeal as a destination, and helps us recapture downtown Clearwater’s historical place as a regional activity center,” points out Economic Development Director Geri Campos Lopez. “We’re starting to see the two destinations complement and energize one another. It’s exciting to be a part of.”
For-sale housing and retail aren’t the only sectors making a comeback in Clearwater, though. Clearwater’s CRA is working with Miles Development Partners to expand the quality and availability of rental housing, as well, through a mixed-use project on a city-owned brownfields development site. Just a few blocks away, the Marriott Residence Inn will become the first new hotel built in the downtown in decades. Property owners and prospective business owners can take advantage of a number of incentive, grant and tax credit programs customized for their needs.These include façade improvement grants, density incentives, brownfields credits and a host of CRA and Tax Increment Finance incentives.You can find a list of incentives and contacts on page 19-22. To see downtown’s progress for yourself, or to get a copy of the downtown plan, visit us online at www.myclearwater.com/downtown today!
Beyond the beaches, the downtown resurgence and the prime Florida location, there’s something else – something arguably just as important – that leads people to call Clearwater home: the city’s incomparable commitment to quality living. Whether you prefer to spend your free time playing sports, participating in community theatre or reconnecting with nature, you don’t have to look far. Clearwater’s commitment to high-quality recreation, parks and cultural programs earned national acclaim in 2005, when Sports Illustrated Magazine named the city as Florida’s “Sports Town USA.” The award confirmed what many who live here have known for years: Clearwater maintains some of the best facilities in the nation, and provides programs for nearly every sporting interest, skill level and age. This includes facilities and programs for everything from soccer and lacrosse to lawn bowling and horseshoes. Every year, hundreds of youth, collegiate and adult sports teams convene in Clearwater for national tournament play and training activities at city facilities. Most notable of these are the city’s five decades of partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies, who in 2004 moved in to their new home, the state-of-the-art Bright House Networks Field. A newer partner – the Ford Ironman 70.3 World Championship – draws some of the finest athletes in the world, and will call Clearwater home through 2010. While the professional teams may get most of the national attention, it’s the city’s community-based parks, libraries and recreation centers that are quietly shaping the lives of everyday residents.With six regional recreation centers and five libraries, residents have a multitude of options for keeping their hearts, minds and bodies healthy and happy.To connect all of these options, Clearwater has been steadily building a regional trail system that not only links points within the city, but also ties in to a larger system that spans all of Pinellas County. 16
If it’s culture you’re looking for, Clearwater has a rich history of both professional and community-based arts programs, led by the award-winning Ruth Eckerd Hall. Ruth Eckerd is home to headline musical, performance and touring Broadway productions, and plays an integral role in community-based performance education through the Marcia P. Hoffman Center for the Performing Arts.Within a short drive, you can also experience the permanent and touring collections of the Tampa Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Salvador Dali Museum and the Gulf Coast Museum of Art, just to name a few. Coachman Park and Bright House Networks Field host a number of outdoor concerts throughout the year, highlighted by the annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday, a free three-day jazz event that draws over 40,000 visitors to downtown Clearwater each year. These are just a few of the wide variety of leisure-time options for residents and visitors. It’s Clearwater’s commitment that our residents live a culturally fulfilling and healthy life, something that can pay dividends for you, your business and your employees. Living in Clearwater is truly a lifestyle, one we think you can’t find in many other places.
When you start a business in Clearwater, you’re not on your own.There are a variety of support and incentive programs to help guide you through the process and, in many cases, help with locating, launching and improving your business.When you choose Clearwater, you’ll join a family of business and industry that’s supportive and engaged in the greater community. Through city and county economic development programs, we can help you identify potential locations, train employees, improve sites and buildings and target potential tax incentives. If you choose the city’s downtown CRA, there are even more potential benefits, including startup and façade improvement programs.These are complemented by robust business development and assistance programs at the University of South Florida and St. Petersburg College. Perhaps one of the biggest incentives we can offer, though, doesn’t appear in print. It’s the outstanding quality of life, climate and lifestyle that go along with working and living in one of Florida’s premier destinations. Read on to learn how we can help you get here…
CITY OF CLEARWATER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Point of contact for services and programs to benefit businesses and residents in Clearwater. Location: 112 S. Osceola Ave. Clearwater, FL 33756 Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Monday-Friday) Phone: 727-562-4054 www.myclearwater.com/gov/depts/econ_devel/ SCORE
Service Corps of Retired Executives SCORE is a volunteer counseling organization associated with the U.S. Small Business Administration. SCORE offers free counseling for small business.
Location: 4707 140th Ave. N., Ste. 311, Clearwater, FL 33762 Hours: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (Mon,Tues,Thurs and Fri) Phone: 727-532-6800 or 727-461-0011 www.score115.org 19
SBDC
Small Business Development Center The University of South Florida’s SBDC offers one-onone counseling to existing small-business owners as well as prospective entrepreneurs. SBDC offers workshops and seminars that are taught by industry experts. SBDC offers professional counselors who provide their services either free of charge or for a nominal fee. Location: 1130 Cleveland St. Clearwater, FL 33755 Phone: 727-461-0011 Location: 1101 Channelside Dr., Suite 210 Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: 813-905-5800 Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Monday - Friday) www. sbdc.usf.edu PINELLAS COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
The PCBDC blends business expertise, customized training, technology applications and real world
experience to help your enterprise succeed. Whether you are starting out, needing to expand, or just improve your bottom line the center is here for you. Offered are business and education training courses, counseling services, business information center with reference library. Location: EpiCenter in the ICOT Business Park 13805 58th St N, Suite 1-200 Clearwater, FL 33760 Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Phone: 727-464-7332 www.SiliconBay.org WORKNET PINELLAS
Place job orders and find suitable candidates, review suitable training, analyze the labor market, and determine competitive starting salaries. Location: 2312 Gulf to Bay Clearwater, Florida 33765 Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday-Friday Phone: 727-791-5820 www.worknetpinellas.org
CLEARWATER REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Business resource center, business referrals, group insurance, legislative action, networking events, monthly newsletter and new member receptions are services the Chamber is providing to businesses in the greater Clearwater area. Location: 1130 Cleveland Street Clearwater, FL 33755 Hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (Monday-Friday) Phone: 727-461-0011 www.clearwaterflorida.org U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION
Assists exporters in reaching new markets through its worldwide network of offices in 130 countries. Its representatives help companies to locate the best foreign markets, to find up-to-date foreign market research on specific products, and to establish solid business contacts. Location: 13805 58th Street, Suite 1-200 Clearwater, FL 33760 Phone: 727-893-3738 and 727-893-3839 www.commerce.gov
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Location: 19337 U.S. Hwy 19 N. Suite 200 Clearwater, FL 33764-3149 Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Monday - Friday) Phone: 727-538-7400 www.myflorida.com/dor
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES CITY OF CLEARWATER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Location: 112 S. Osceola Avenue P.O. Box 4748 Clearwater, FL 33758-4748 Phone: 727-562-4054 • Fax: 727-562-4075 www.myclearwater.com/gov/depts/econ_devel/ index.asp The City of Clearwater offers incentives to new or expanding Clearwater businesses to help them become and remain globally competitive. A highly experienced city staff will work closely with your business to facilitate your new, expanding, or relocating business needs through the city’s process.We want you to succeed! This service is FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL. • Incentives available in our Brownfields, Enterprise Zone, and Hubzone • Access to capital • Site selection services 21
• CRA façade improvement grants • CRA incentives for targeted industries and mixed-use development • Quick Response Training Program • State funded program provides job training tailored to benefit specific companies. • Incumbent Worker Training Programs. QUALIFIED TARGET INDUSTRY TAX REFUND PROGRAM (QTI)
Minimum of 10 jobs must be created with average salary of all new hires to be at least $40,230 annually. INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS
Coordinated with Pinellas County Economic Development. MANUFACTURER’S TAX INCENTIVE
State sales/use tax exemption for purchases of certain manufacturing machinery/equipment for qualifying new and expanding businesses.
BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
Brownfields are abandoned or underutilized industrial/commercial sites either contaminated or perceived to be. Incentives are available to aid in the economic development and environmental restoration for these sites located in Clearwater’s Brownfield Area.