The Grove Brings Business Back to Pinellas County Neighborhood
Pinellas County Economic Development Provides Crucial Services to New Business Village in North Greenwood
Pinellas County Economic Development is adding its small business assistance expertise to The Grove, a project designed to revitalize local business in the North Greenwood neighborhood of Clearwater, Florida. The concept for The Grove is a mini mall business incubator that will be created from repurposed shipping containers. Fifteen small businesses are planned to operate permanently from the location, with space allocated for an additional 15 pop-up vendors. In total, The Grove is projected to provide employment to over 100 people, with an emphasis on youth and workforce development.
“This is the first new business facility to be built in the North Greenwood area in 50 years,” reports Gloria Campbell, Executive Director of The Grove. “It was once a thriving black business hub, and our goal is to stimulate business growth in the area to become a beacon of hope for generations to come.”
Business owners operating at The Grove will be required to obtain education and guidance on business essentials such as accounting systems, inventory management, and establishing banking relationships. Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) furnished consultation throughout the project’s planning and proposal process and is providing participating businesses with budget, proposal, and proforma reviews; skills-training workshops, and ongoing no-cost consulting. Owners of The Wine Down Blue, The Juice Up, Loaded Bake Potato, Hydration Station LLC, and Sweet L’s will work with PCED in advance of opening locations at The Grove. Additionally, they have referred other future tenants to PCED for consulting assistance.
“The services we provide to small businesses throughout Pinellas County are designed to support companies through every stage of growth. Our goal is always to provide owners with the skills they need to succeed, and that is a critical component of The Grove’s long-term success,” explains PCED Economic Development Manager Jenée Skipper.
The Grove is backed by a partnership between Pinellas County, the City of Clearwater, the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition, and the North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Agency. Pinellas County approved the creation of the North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Area in 2023, establishing the area as a zone for economic revitalization. In February 2025, the City of Clearwater approved $500,000 to finance the project, and has provided an additional $200,000 to support the tenants.
This is the first public/private collaboration in North Greenwood, and expectations are that it will become the model for future projects in the area. The first shipping containers are projected to open in June 2026, and hope is that the entire business village will be completed by the end of 2026.
Campbell concludes, “We are referring to this project as ‘A Village’ because it’s where people can come to seek healing, be renewed, be economically impacted; families can come together for socialization and fun, it will serve as an epicenter for the community. Always knowing they can come to the village to get their needs met.”
Stay informed about The Grove’s progress at Culc2020.org.
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.
