Not so long ago, talent and innovation blossomed in an area just south of Downtown St. Petersburg. City officials and community partners wanted to leverage the capabilities of key institutions—USF St. Petersburg, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, and the Poynter Institute, to name a few. The point was to foster collaboration and show our initiatives to the world.
Nearly ten years later, the journey from this collaboration to our impact in industry is clearer than ever. Since our Executive Director attended the Inaugural Summit of Innovation Districts, we knew the St. Pete Innovation District was on the right track and headed toward a transformational future.
Ahead of our tenth anniversary next year, we’re sharing stories of growth and innovation. Just this month, community anchors came together to relaunch the Communications Cohort. You can look forward to regular newsletters and the return of our podcast, Innovation in the Burg, this year!
We highlight our combined successes to raise the innovation ecosystem locally and nationally. Cheers to how far we’ve come and the stories we’re writing together. More updates are on the horizon as we prepare for the tenth anniversary of the St. Pete Innovation District.
Nisuka Williams
District Community Manager
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.