Tampa Bay Business News, a Florida Authority Network™ news website, covers business, economic development, real estate, healthcare, finance, tourism, agriculture, technology, and industry news in Tampa Bay and the five counties that make up its local business community: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, and Polk. These counties share a workforce, supply chain, customer base, and commute patterns along the Interstate 4, Interstate 75, and Interstate 275 corridors, so we treat the region’s business news as one local story.
Our Coverage Area at a Glance
We report on the businesses, employers, developers, and decision-makers in these counties and communities:
Hillsborough County: Tampa, Downtown Tampa, Channelside, Water Street Tampa, Westshore, Ybor City, South Tampa, Hyde Park, Davis Islands, Seminole Heights, Carrollwood, Citrus Park, Town ’n’ Country, New Tampa, Temple Terrace, Brandon, Valrico, Seffner, Riverview, FishHawk, Lithia, Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Sun City Center, Gibsonton, Wimauma, Lutz, Thonotosassa, Plant City, and Dover
Pinellas County: St. Petersburg, Downtown St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Largo, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Seminole, Gulfport, Kenneth City, South Pasadena, St. Pete Beach, Tierra Verde, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Redington Shores, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Belleair, Belleair Bluffs, and Belleair Beach
Manatee County: Bradenton, Palmetto, Ellenton, Parrish, Lakewood Ranch, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Longboat Key, Cortez, Myakka City, Terra Ceia, Rubonia, Oneco, Whitfield, Samoset, and Palma Sola
Sarasota County: Sarasota, Downtown Sarasota, Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Casey Key, Osprey, Nokomis, Venice, South Venice, North Port, Englewood, Laurel, Gulf Gate, Palmer Ranch, Fruitville, and Warm Mineral Springs
Polk County: Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Haines City, Lake Wales, Auburndale, Davenport, Mulberry, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Dundee, Eagle Lake, Lake Alfred, Polk City, Highland City, Lake Hamilton, Babson Park, Alturas, Loughman, and Poinciana
Hillsborough County
Tampa is the largest business center on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Downtown Tampa, Channelside, and Water Street Tampa are home to financial services, law, insurance, and professional firms, while Westshore is the region’s largest office district, next to Tampa International Airport. Port Tampa Bay moves cargo, fuel, and cruise passengers, and MacDill Air Force Base brings a major defense and military presence. Healthcare, higher education, and a growing technology and cybersecurity community round out the city’s economy, supported by the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa.
Ybor City, Hyde Park, South Tampa, and Seminole Heights reflect the restaurant, retail, and small business economy. East of the city, Brandon, Valrico, Seffner, and Riverview are among the county’s fastest-growing suburban corridors for retail, medical, and professional services, while Apollo Beach, Ruskin, and Sun City Center serve the south end of the county. Plant City adds agriculture, including its well-known strawberry industry, along with distribution and light industrial growth, and Temple Terrace, Lutz, and Carrollwood add medical offices, professional services, and neighborhood commerce.
Pinellas County
Pinellas is the most densely populated county in Florida, with an economy that combines marine science, tourism, manufacturing, and finance. St. Petersburg is known for its downtown waterfront, the Innovation District, a growing technology and startup scene, and a strong arts and restaurant economy. Clearwater and Clearwater Beach drive tourism and hospitality, and the Gulf beaches from St. Pete Beach to Indian Rocks Beach depend on resorts, restaurants, marinas, and short-term rentals.
Largo, Pinellas Park, and Oldsmar anchor manufacturing, aerospace, defense electronics, and medical device businesses, while Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, and Tarpon Springs add small business, craft brewing, and the historic sponge docks. The barrier islands’ recovery after the 2024 hurricane season remains an ongoing business story.
Manatee County
Manatee County blends growth, agriculture, and waterfront tourism. Bradenton and Palmetto anchor the county’s commerce along the Manatee River, and Port Manatee supports cargo and logistics. Lakewood Ranch is one of the nation’s best-selling master-planned communities and a major commercial and employment center, and Parrish and Ellenton add new residential and industrial growth along the Interstate 75 corridor. Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, and the fishing village of Cortez support tourism, marinas, and commercial fishing, while Myakka City reflects the county’s farming and ranching heritage.
Sarasota County
Sarasota is known for wealth management, private banking, luxury real estate, and a deep arts and culture economy. Downtown Sarasota, Siesta Key, Lido Key, and Longboat Key support hospitality, retail, and professional services, and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport serves the two-county region. South of the city, Venice, Osprey, and Nokomis add healthcare, retirement living, and small business, while North Port is one of the fastest-growing cities in Florida, with new housing, retail, and commercial development. Englewood and Warm Mineral Springs extend the market toward the Charlotte County line.
Polk County
Polk County anchors the Interstate 4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando, with an economy built on logistics, agriculture, healthcare, and tourism. Lakeland is home to the Publix Super Markets headquarters, Lakeland Regional Health, Florida Polytechnic University, and Southeastern University, along with a growing downtown and distribution base. Winter Haven brings tourism through Legoland Florida and the Chain of Lakes, along with a citrus heritage that continues across the county.
Haines City, Davenport, and Auburndale are growing hubs for warehousing, distribution, and housing, and Lake Wales and Frostproof reflect citrus, cattle, and small town business. Bartow, Mulberry, and Fort Meade tie into the county’s phosphate mining and agriculture economy, and Poinciana and Loughman are among the fastest-growing residential areas on the Orlando side of the county.
Business in Tampa Bay: What We Cover
Common themes in our reporting include:
- Real estate and development: commercial, industrial, mixed-use, master-planned communities, and post-hurricane rebuilding
- Banking, finance, and wealth management: banks, investment firms, private banks, insurers, and family offices
- Healthcare: hospital systems, physician practices, senior care, research, and medical technology
- Technology and cybersecurity: software, cybersecurity, startups, and innovation districts
- Tourism and hospitality: beaches, resorts, restaurants, attractions, events, and cruise
- Marine and boating: ports, marinas, boatbuilding, fishing, and waterfront commerce
- Logistics and trade: Port Tampa Bay, Port Manatee, airports, warehousing, and distribution
- Aerospace and defense: MacDill Air Force Base, defense contractors, and advanced manufacturing
- Agriculture: strawberries, citrus, vegetables, cattle, and the packing and logistics behind them
- Construction and homebuilding: builders, contractors, suppliers, and permitting trends
- Legal and professional services: law firms, accountants, consultants, and insurers
- Small business and entrepreneurship: the restaurants, shops, contractors, and service providers that form the backbone of local economies
- Education and workforce: colleges, universities, and training programs that feed regional employers
About This Publication
Tampa Bay Business News is part of the Florida Authority Network™, a collection of regional, industry, and video news publications and press release services dedicated to being a trusted source of business news across Florida. If your business is based in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, or Polk County and has news to share, we welcome the opportunity to tell your story.
