Canada Meets Florida
St. Petersburg-Pinellas County delegation travels to Toronto to sell Canadian companies on doing business in Florida
November 1, 2026 – Last month, Dean Maratea, Economic Development Manager with Pinellas County Economic Development, joined local partners and business leaders in Toronto to tell more than 50 Canadian companies why business feels better in Pinellas County, Florida’s Ideal Business Climate. The trip was spearheaded by the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation (St. Pete EDC) and represented the organization’s first-ever business mission. Representatives from the City of St. Petersburg, SelectFlorida, and the Tampa Bay Partnership rounded out the economic development delegation, and the overarching goal was to help Canadian companies discover the resources, incentives, and opportunities available to help make the leap into the U.S. market.
Maratea explains, “This mission was strategically planned to connect with companies we knew to be considering a U.S. market expansion or relocation and to sell the merits of locating in the greater Pinellas County-St. Petersburg area. No one organization could have presented the opportunities as well as we did as a group; our regional partnerships make events like this possible and powerful.”
The presentation provided clear, insightful information about why Canadian companies should consider Pinellas County and answered critical questions about establishing a business in the U.S.: how to finance it, how to move people, where to operate, and how to become part of a new business community. Maratea’s presentation focused on Pinellas County’s target industry sectors and pro-business climate. He provided information about Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED)’s no-cost business assistance, including site selection and business expansion resources, and highlighted how PCED works in tandem with partners like St. Petersburg and the St. Pete EDC to foster business growth.
“PCED’s expertise is in working with companies from start to finish, often resulting in business relationships that span decades,” says Maratea. “We don’t sell a company on the area and then leave them to figure out things like finding the perfect site, navigating the permit process, or guessing at what resources might be available to help finance an expansion – we ask questions and actively engage with companies to anticipate needs and provide answers before a need becomes urgent.”
Panelists from legal, banking and other professional sectors were also included in the presentation and were able to answer specific questions on the spot. Additionally, leaders from several St. Petersburg companies participated in the mission to share their own experiences of locating a business in the city: Adam Kupsta, Founder and CEO of Oncore Cloud Services; Mason Salit, Chief Talent Officer for Dynasty Financial Partners; and Jarrett Wolfe, CEO and Founder of SmartChoice Communications.
Mason Salit remarks, “The support we received during our relocation was extraordinary, and what has been even more impressive is that the support has continued year after year. St. Petersburg has become more than our headquarters location. It has become our home. I was excited to represent St. Pete in Toronto as I wanted the attendees to hear directly from me regarding our experience and the significant opportunity for growth.”
Jarrett Wolfe adds, “When we expanded SmartChoice to St. Pete, we experienced firsthand how valuable it is to have the right people and resources around you when entering a new market. The St. Pete EDC helped us make meaningful connections, build relationships, and establish ourselves in the area. That experience is a big reason I wanted to participate in the Canada trip. We’ve been in their shoes, and I want other business leaders to see the same opportunities we found here. The collaboration between the EDC, local organizations and business leaders is what makes St. Pete special and creates an environment where companies can connect, innovate and grow.”
Canada Meets Florida put the right people in one space to not merely put Pinellas County and St. Petersburg on Canadian companies’ radar, but to proactively explain in detail why companies should make that jump and how to do it. As the St. Pete EDC stated following the trip, “This mission broadened the reach of the St. Pete EDC and put us face to face with prospective projects we may never have met otherwise. Every one of those conversations is a potential new employer, new investment, and new opportunity for the people who live and work in St. Pete.”
Ready to explore how our Ideal Business Climate can help your business grow? Contact our team of experts at (727) 464-7332 or econdev@pinellas.gov.
About Pinellas County Economic Development
Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) works with existing businesses to encourage expansion and seeks to attract new companies with high-wage careers to our community. Through investment tools, business classes, professional consulting services, trade missions to open new markets, and strategic partnerships, PCED fosters a pro-business environment and promotes the ideal business climate of Pinellas County, Florida. Learn more at www.pced.org.
