With the tourism industry crumbling like a day-old sand castle, business leaders across Pinellas County are turning to an old idea for new cash flow: Build a convention center.

From Clearwater to St. Petersburg to unincorporated Pinellas, business leaders are scouting locations and buttering up government officials to secure funding for what could be Florida's 21st convention center. "It obviously brings money and people," said architect Randy Wedding, who has discussed the idea with other downtown St. Petersburg business leaders. "The question is how soon can we do it?"