In 2014, St. Petersburg’s Grow Smarter Initiative conducted a target business analysis to identify industries that were growing and could become pivotal for our future. One of the industries identified was “marine science.” This was no surprise. We have had a long-standing, robust collaboration of academic, government, and nonprofit organizations working on water-related issues.
Fast forward to 2021, when Preparing a Workforce for the New Blue Economy was published. This book contained a collection of essays that highlighted the need for new technology and data solutions to solve many of the same water-related challenges. Our conversations pivoted from “marine science” to “new blue economy” and “marine economy.” At that time, the marine economy in Tampa Bay accounted for $8.7B in gross domestic product (GDP), $4.8B in wages, and approximately 5,720 businesses. Our five-year growth had outpaced the state, and more specifically, the Miami metro area. However, we fell behind in the number of new business starts.
That revelation, and other work happening to encourage innovation in the marine economy, led the St. Pete Innovation District and its partners to pursue a NOAA grant to implement accelerator programs to support small businesses and entrepreneurs commercializing technology solutions for the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.
Today, we continue to see growth in the number of private companies—startups to well-established—emerging in our region. We have pivoted once again in how we refer to the water-related work that brings academic, government, nonprofit, and private industry together. Now, we use the term “ocean enterprise” to reflect the language used by both the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and NOAA. Whichever term is used, ultimately the St. Pete Innovation District is committed to facilitating the growth of research, innovation, and ideas that make our coastal community stronger.
Alison Barlow
CEO
Join us on our next tour of the Innovation District! Our tour will begin at the HUB, and we will board a trolley with other Innovation District partners. As we travel throughout the District, you will learn about the fascinating history and exciting future plans for the area. We will make several stops for a unique insider view of the research and collaborations underway. Participants are invited to enjoy a networking happy hour back at the HUB, where our tour will conclude.
A group of support organizations, led by the Innovation District and fueled by a grant from Duke Energy, developed our first Tampa Bay Innovation Ecosystem Map in 2023. We aim to continue guiding entrepreneurs to the best possible resources with an updated version.
Josh Rojas of Bay News 9 recently visited the Maritime and Defense Tech Hub, where he was welcomed by CEO Alison Barlow and COO Lauren Bell for a discussion about the building’s future expansion. The Hub is already home to a thriving community of companies and demand continues to grow. To accommodate this momentum, leaders are envisioning Hub 2.0, a second building proposed for the west parking lot.