Raymond James
ST. PETE/CLEARWATER >>>
USF St. Petersburg
Eckerd College
Perfect climate
FOR
BUSINESS
From HSN to Wikipedia, PolitiFact and more, business and creativity thrive on the Gulf Coast.
The climate is ripe St. Pete/Clearwater’s gorgeous weather is no secret. But what you might not know is the climate is just as friendly for business and higher education. Many famous companies got their start here and still call the area home; some of them might surprise you.
Pioneer territory Purchased last year by QVC, the pioneering teleshopping retailer HSN began and is headquartered in St. Petersburg. And in 1962, a St. Pete broker named Bob James started a company that has grown into investment powerhouse Raymond James Financial, with more than 7,600 financial advisors serving millions of clients worldwide.
Lockheed Martin
Wings and brains
The big picture
Wings lovers should know that Clearwater is the launching pad for Hooters, which debuted in 1983. Bolstered by a fresh-faced, short-shorted workforce and cheeky marketing, Hooters has grown into a multimillion dollar enterprise, with restaurants in 27 countries, giving men who should know better (and the women in their lives, good sports all) a great place to enjoy lunch or dinner with a pitcher of beer and a side of ogling. In more cerebral pursuits, online encyclopedia Wikipedia and fact-checking website PolitiFact both got their start in St. Pete and continue to offer curious minds information, or at the very least, the last word in an argument.
Our sugar-white beaches, vibrant art scene, craft breweries and foodie-magnet restaurants regularly attract new residents, particularly millennials. Being named by Forbes magazine this year as One of America’s Best Cities for Young Professionals can only help keep the trend going.
R&D for the win Thanks to a labor force that includes 100,000 veterans, plus the largest port in the state and two nearby international airports, St. Pete/Clearwater is a well-positioned home base for technology firms Tech Data and Jabil Circuit, while defense and aerospace-sector firms General Dynamics, GE Aviation, Honeywell International, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have divisions in the region as well. And with industry leaders Nielsen Media Research, Valpak and Catalina Marketing, the area is becoming a hub for big data.
Feel the learn St. Pete/Clearwater can boast of a number of respected higher-education institutions. The University of South Florida St. Petersburg and the USF College of Marine Science share a 58-acre waterfront campus in downtown St. Pete. USFSP ranks high in the state and nationally for its online MBA program. USFCMS has been instrumental in studying the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Across the street is nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies, which teaches about journalism in the digital age. The private Eckerd College, on Boca Ciega Bay, is one of only 40 colleges listed in the Colleges That Change Lives guide, and is known for its creative writing, management and international relations programs. Gulfport’s Stetson University College of Law, Florida’s oldest law school, is ranked first for trial advocacy by U.S. News & World Report. And at St. Petersburg College, students enjoy a lower cost of attendance, while graduates rank tops statewide in starting wages.
Stetson University College of Law
Tech Data