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Editorial: New EDC good for St. Petersburg

 
Published Aug. 28, 2015

Johnson & Johnson's decision to bring a headquarters for corporate services and 500 jobs to Hillsborough County testifies to Tampa Bay's attractive climate and lifestyle — and to the value of vigorous business recruitment. A private-public partnership called the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. helped persuade the pharmaceutical giant to expand to an office complex near Fletcher Avenue and Interstate 75.

With its bustling downtown, Tropicana Field, the Gateway area, the Dome Industrial District and the Skyway Marina District, St. Petersburg is also ripe for aggressive business recruitment. Mayor Rick Kriseman has taken a prudent first step by creating a new economic development corporation in partnership with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

The city's financial commitment of $100,000 in 2016 is bare bones by recruitment standards and will have to grow over time. The corporation's leader also must coordinate carefully with Pinellas County officials to avoid counterproductive overlap or competition. But with Hillsborough attracting the likes of Johnson & Johnson, Amazon and Bristol-Myers Squibb, time has long past for St. Petersburg to drop its passive approach and get into the game. Besides creating jobs, large businesses often enhance civic life by contributing to the arts, sports, education and other community endeavors. One city's coup is the entire region's gain.