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Review the latest news, articles, events and multimedia about Pinellas County businesses. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive news and updates in your inbox.
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about Business in Pinellas
2026 top 50 contractors zoom past $10B in annual revenue
St. Pete recommends short-listing four Trop redevelopment proposals
Pinellas County Reverse Trade Show: Connecting Businesses to Buyers for 15 Years
In its 15th year, the 2026 Pinellas County Reverse Trade Show connected more than 120 business attendees to buyers from 24 government agencies and prime contractors, exceeding expectations and capitalizing on the Tampa Bay region’s growth in government contracting opportunities for small businesses.
Skills Enhancement Program
Pinellas County’s new Skills Enhancement Training (SET) Program offers funding to target industry employers for the development and implementation of customized training programs. This program prioritizes upskilling talent within strategically identified industries, fostering a highly skilled workforce that meets the evolving demands of the market.
Success Stories
Pinellas County Reverse Trade Show: Connecting Businesses to Buyers for 15 Years
In its 15th year, the 2026 Pinellas County Reverse Trade Show connected more than 120 business attendees to buyers from 24 government agencies and prime contractors, exceeding expectations and capitalizing on the Tampa Bay region’s growth in government contracting opportunities for small businesses.
Ice & Water Supplier Rebuilds and Expands with Help from Florida SBDC at PCED
Business partners Murad Ajaney and Saleem Hussein turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at PCED for assistance after their business, Dolphin Ice and Water, sustained damage from the 2024 hurricanes. With the professional assistance of business consultant Kurt Forster, they obtained crucial funding to repair equipment, restock inventory, and get back to serving customers quickly, enabling the company to resume expansion plans that will make Dolphin Ice and Water the largest ice producer in Florida.
Resilient Family Legacy: Boutique Resorts Rebuild in St. Pete Beach after Disasters
After their business sustained damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, Plaza Beach Resorts owners Robert and Mariuche Czyszczon turned to the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development. The support enabled them to reopen and house displaced residents through FEMA’s Temporary Lodging Assistance program.
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Press Releases
Pinellas County celebrates major headquarters expansion at Wendover Art Group
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Wendover Art Group, a leading American manufacturer of high-quality artwork, mirrors, wallcoverings, lighting, textiles, sculptures and more, in honor of the substantial expansion of its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in Largo. The 69,000sf addition was made possible, in part, through Pinellas County’s Employment Sites Program (ESP), which is dedicated to supporting local business growth and creating high-wage jobs.
Florida Seating Expands in Pinellas County, Florida
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark Florida Seating’s expansion in Pinellas County. Florida Seating used Pinellas County’s Employment Sites Program (ESP) to help finance the expansion, which added more than 18,000 square feet of manufacturing space and ten new jobs to the company’s campus.
AGORA Edge Expands in St. Petersburg with Support from Employment Sites Program
On Tuesday, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners celebrated the ribbon-cutting for AGORA Edge’s new facility in St. Petersburg, Florida. Growing since 1985, AGORA Edge is a leader in soft goods design and manufacturing, employs over 350 workers, and counts several Fortune 500 companies among its clients. With rising demand, the company outgrew its existing space and used Pinellas County’s Employment Sites Program (ESP) to fund an expansion, adding nearly 48,000 square feet and 50 new jobs.
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Multimedia
Wendover Art Group Celebrates Expansion
On December 12, 2025, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Wendover Art Group, a leading American manufacturer of high-quality artwork, mirrors, wallcoverings, lighting, textiles, sculptures and more, in honor of the substantial expansion of its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in Largo, Florida. The 69,000 square foot addition was made possible, in part, through Pinellas County’s Employment Sites Program (ESP), which is dedicated to supporting local business growth and creating high-wage jobs.
New Tungsten Heavy Alloys Manufacturing Facility Opens in Pinellas.
On August 6, 2025, Astaras Inc. celebrated the grand opening of its new business unit and manufacturing facility in Clearwater, Florida. The Pinellas County Economic Development department assisted the company with finding the site for this expansion, which will produce American-made, DFARS-compliant tungsten heavy alloys, creating job opportunities and strengthening the region’s role in the aerospace and defense sectors. The Pinellas County Commission proudly joined industry leaders and local officials in welcoming this significant investment in our community.
PCED Celebrates Florida Seating’s Expansion.
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 10, 2025, to mark Florida Seating’s expansion in Pinellas County. Florida Seating used Pinellas County’s Employment Sites Program (ESP) to help finance the expansion, which added more than 18,000 square feet of manufacturing space and ten new jobs to the company’s campus.
Pinellas County, the Ideal Business Climate.
Visitors and residents worldwide are drawn to the renowned white sand beaches of Pinellas County, but companies are attracted to Pinellas’ ideal business climate. With a skilled workforce, robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, well-developed infrastructure, and construction-ready sites, businesses can expect to begin growing immediately in Pinellas. Anchored by the urban markets of Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Pinellas has the third-largest manufacturing employment base in Florida. Fortune 500 companies like Jabil and Raymond James are headquartered here. Pinellas has diverse, yet symbiotic, industry clusters, including aviation/aerospace; defense/national security; medical technologies; business and financial services; and information technology. An extensive network of suppliers, service providers, and business associations support operations in these sectors. How can we help you grow? Contact us today at econdev@pinellas.gov.
ARK Innovation Center, now open!
On December 18, 2023, Pinellas County celebrated the completion of the ARK Innovation Center, a new 45,000-square-foot business incubator located at 1101 4th St S. in St. Petersburg. The new facility is owned by Pinellas County and operated by the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, a tech incubator and accelerator with a well-respected team of board members, advisors, and mentors and a track record of helping tech start-ups grow.
Celebrate ARK Innovation Center’s Construction Progress
Pinellas County celebrated a milestone on January 20, 2023: the structural completion of the new ARK Innovation Center in St. Petersburg. Project partners celebrated by leaving their “mark” on a piece of Pinellas County history by signing the steel beam that will be used in the interior structure of the new business incubator.
Pinellas County Celebrates Opening of Brooker Creek South Industrial Facility
The Pinellas County Commission celebrated on Tues., Sept. 6, the completion of Brooker Creek South, the first industrial manufacturing building supported in part by Pinellas County’s Employment Sites Program (ESP). The developer, Harrod Properties, Inc., constructed the facility at 500 Brooker Creek Blvd, in Oldsmar’s thriving industrial market. The ribbon cutting was attended by Pinellas County Economic Development, the City of Oldsmar, Harrod Properties, and the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce. The new tenants – Belac’s Chromalloy, Edmund Optics, and FDD, also joined in the celebration.
Pinellas County Celebrates SBDC Day
Learn how the SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development has helped businesses start up, create jobs, build or expand a business plan, grow capital, and obtain government contracts in Pinellas County, Florida.
