Volunteers of America of Florida broke ground November 5 with a new affordable project on 5th Avenue South. The project will bring 50 new affordable mixed-use housing units to the market and is aimed at low-income earners.
“After the pandemic, affordable housing became even more complicated to build because of inflation and the cost, higher construction costs,” said Janet Stringfellow, president and CEO of Volunteers of America of Florida. “But we were able to master these challenges thanks to our community partners.” Stringfellow says there are currently 2,400 people in St. Petersburg who need an apartment without calling home. And the problem keeps getting worse. As the development of affordable housing projects is becoming more and more expensive, wages are stagnating and housing and rental prices rise by 20-30%, the demand is growing faster than affordable housing can become available.
To learn more: Groundbreaking on 50 Affordable Homes in St. Pete
source: SPID Nov/Dec Newsletter
Last month, the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub kicked off the school year with a lively Retro Back-to-School themed Happy Hour. Tenants brought their families, and the space was filled with throwback snacks, classic laser backdrop photo ops, and plenty of nostalgic fun.
Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay's 3DE initiative connects high school students with local and national businesses, giving them hands-on experience in problem-solving.
October always feels like conference season — a time when professionals from around the world gather to exchange ideas, explore emerging trends, and strengthen collaborations. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the OCEANS 2025 Conference in Chicago, a global gathering for those advancing ocean science and maritime technology.