Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges, President & CEO, Tampa Downtown Partnership

July 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges, president and CEO of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, detailed the organization’s strategic initiatives to manage the area’s rapid growth and enhance its vitality. She highlighted the launch of a new strategic plan and the successful activation of all seven downtown neighborhoods through hundreds of cultural events. “This boosted foot traffic, cultural engagementand visibility, which are all key drivers of  real estate value and commercial vitality across downtown’s unique submarkets,” she stated.

What have been the most significant changes or new initiatives within the Tampa Downtown Partnership over the past year?

This past year has really been about positioning downtown Tampa for its next chapter of growth and connectivity. We launched our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, which focuses on service excellence, organizational impact, downtown growth and long-term resiliency. At the same time, we’ve continued investing in neighborhood activation and placemaking across all seven downtown neighborhoods. Those efforts are helping create a more connected and vibrant downtown experience while supporting local businesses, artists and community engagement.

More broadly, we’re seeing downtown continue evolving into a place where people want to live, work, experience culture and build community and our role is helping shape that momentum intentionally. 

How is the Partnership working with local businesses, universities and community organizations to ensure downtown Tampa remains an attractive destination?

Successful downtowns are built through collaboration and one of the most important roles we play is bringing stakeholders together around a shared vision for downtown Tampa’s future.

We work closely with businesses, universities, cultural institutions, entrepreneurs and neighborhood organizations to help strengthen connectivity, economic opportunity, placemaking and the overall downtown experience. We also continue to create opportunities for dialogue and engagement through Downtown Debriefings and community-focused programming. Those conversations are important because downtown’s growth impacts the entire region and collaboration is essential to sustaining that momentum. 

What makes downtown Tampa an ideal place to live, work and invest today?

Downtown Tampa is experiencing tremendous momentum right now. We’re seeing strong residential growth, continued investment in infrastructure and public spaces and increasing demand for walkable urban living. What makes downtown especially exciting is the combination of connectivity, culture, and quality of place. Programs like DASH microtransit are helping create a more connected and accessible downtown experience, making it easier for residents, workers, and visitors to move between neighborhoods, destinations, and public spaces. Combined with continued investment in mixed-use development, infrastructure, and cultural institutions, those efforts are helping shape a more dynamic and connected urban environment. Ultimately, the future of competitive downtowns will be defined by experience and connectivity and Tampa is uniquely positioned for that next era of urban growth. 

What challenges are you seeing in downtown Tampa right now?

Like many growing urban centers, one of the biggest challenges is making sure growth happens intentionally and in a way that remains connected, accessible and inclusive. As downtown continues to evolve, we have to stay focused on mobility, infrastructure, public spaces, housing accessibility and neighborhood connectivity. At the same time, those challenges also create tremendous opportunities to shape a downtown that is more walkable, experience-driven and resilient long term. Projects like Franklin Street revitalization and the North End Vision Framework are important because they help us think strategically about how downtown grows and how neighborhoods connect to one another in the future.

How do events like Winter Village contribute to community building?

Public spaces play a major role in how people experience downtown and events help bring that experience to life. Whether it’s our large-scale events such as Winter Village and River O’ Green or neighborhood activations throughout the year, these events create opportunities for people to gather, connect and experience downtown in meaningful ways. They also support local businesses, increase activity in public spaces and contribute to downtown’s cultural vibrancy. Community building is one of the most important aspects of creating a successful downtown and those shared experiences help strengthen that sense of place. 

What are your key goals and priorities for the next two to three years?

Our focus over the next few years is to make sure that we support downtown’s growth in a way that is intentional, connected and sustainable. We’re continuing to prioritize initiatives around walkability, connectivity, public space activation, neighborhood identity, entrepreneurship and long-term economic competitiveness. Downtown Tampa has extraordinary momentum right now. Our responsibility is to help support continued growth that translates into lasting value for residents, businesses and the broader community, while continuing to position downtown as a leading urban center in the region.