Azalea Cay breaks ground in St. Petersburg
ST. PETERSBURG – Metro Development Group and Porter Development have broken ground on Azalea Cay, a new residential community at 1501 72nd St. N.
The project marks Metro Development Group’s entry into multifamily housing. The first phase represents an investment of about $109.8 million and will include 341 apartments.
Of those units, 51 will be reserved for households earning at or below 80% of area median income and another 51 for households earning at or below 120% of area median income. The remaining 239 apartments will be market rate.
The first phase is supported by $11.25 million in public funding, including $6 million from the City of St. Petersburg and $5.25 million in Penny for Pinellas affordable housing funds.
Azalea Cay is planned as a three-phase development with about 1,000 apartments at full buildout.
SBA awards grant to expand veteran business services in Florida
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration has awarded nearly $4.9 million in funding over five years to establish new Veterans Business Outreach Centers in Florida, Alaska and Louisiana.
Florida Is For Veterans Inc., which operates as Veterans Florida, received $400,000 for the initial grant period.
The centers will provide free entrepreneurship training, counseling and technical assistance to veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, military spouses and eligible family members.
Services include help with business planning, financing, government contracting, marketing and business expansion. The centers will also provide Boots to Business instruction for service members transitioning from the military.
Climate conference to unveil coastal resilience initiative
SARASOTA – The Climate Adaptation Center will hold its sixth annual Florida Climate Conference from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at Selby Auditorium on the New College of Florida North Campus.
The conference will unveil a framework for the Sarasota Living Laboratory for Coastal Resilience. The initiative will combine observations of atmospheric, water and coastal conditions with climate science, forecasting and artificial intelligence to improve regional planning.
Speakers include Marie Selby Botanical Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki, The Bay Park Conservancy founding CEO A.G. Lafley, Sarasota Orchestra President and CEO Joe McKenna and University of Miami climate scientist Benjamin Kirtman.
General admission costs $109. Get tickets at theclimateadaptationcenter.org.
Sims Crane names chief commercial officer
TAMPA – Sims Crane & Equipment Co. has appointed Srdjan Vukajlovic as chief commercial officer.
Vukajlovic will lead the company’s sales division and oversee commercial strategy, market expansion, customer development and revenue growth.
He brings more than 17 years of experience in commercial strategy, executive leadership, operations and financial management.
“Srdjan brings the commercial insight and leadership experience to take our sales organization forward with a clear focus on where the greatest opportunities exist,” President and CEO Deborah Weber said.
Sims Crane provides crane, rigging and lifting services across the Southeast.
