Felicia Donnelly, City Manager, City of Oldsmar

July 2026 — In an interview with Invest: Tampa Bay, Felicia Donnelly, City Manager, City of Oldsmar, discussed how aging infrastructure, rising costs, and strategic growth are shaping the city’s future within the Tampa Bay region. “When managed well, these challenges become opportunities to strengthen the city’s financial position, improve infrastructure, and enhance overall quality of life,” she said.

What key changes over the past year have most impacted the City of Oldsmar, and in what ways have they influenced your strategic direction?

Over the past year, some of the most significant factors have been aging infrastructure reaching the end of its lifecycle, rising operational costs, and broader uncertainty around municipal revenues.

In Oldsmar, our strategic direction is set by the City Council, and my role is to implement that direction through disciplined planning and execution. These challenges have reinforced the importance of prioritization, long-term financial planning, and ensuring that our investments align with Council priorities and community needs.

What recent initiatives or developments in Oldsmar are you most excited about, and what impact are they having locally and within the region?

I am especially excited about the continued expansion of our industrial base and the progress we are seeing in the downtown corridor.

We have existing companies growing and creating new job opportunities, and we are also seeing long-planned redevelopment projects, such as the 82-unit, mixed-use, townhome development in the downtown area, begin to take shape. While these may appear new, they are really the result of years of intentional planning and investment.

Together, these efforts are strengthening our local economy and positioning Oldsmar as an increasingly attractive place to live, work, and invest within the Tampa Bay region.

How is Oldsmar approaching workforce development and attracting talent to support both city operations and the local business community?

Workforce development is a regional issue, and we actively participate in partnerships across Tampa Bay to address it.

Oldsmar is involved with organizations like the One Pinellas Business Alliance, where we collaborate with educational institutions, local governments, and private sector partners. These partnerships help align workforce needs with training opportunities and ensure we are supporting both our local businesses and our own municipal workforce.

What key trends are you seeing in the region, and how is Oldsmar positioning itself to respond?

We are still seeing a strong shift toward communities that offer more than just housing. People are looking for connectivity, access to amenities, employment opportunities, and a strong sense of place.

Oldsmar is well positioned as a mid-sized city because we can offer accessibility, character, and community while still being part of a larger regional economy. We are also seeing increased expectations from businesses, particularly around infrastructure quality, housing options, and environments that help attract and retain talent.

Our approach is to plan thoughtfully and invest in ways that meet those expectations while preserving what makes Oldsmar unique.

What are some of the main challenges facing Oldsmar today, and how is the city turning those challenges into opportunities for long-term success?

Like many cities, we are balancing infrastructure needs, growth pressures, and rising costs, while maintaining a high level of service and fiscal responsibility.

The opportunity comes from being proactive. We focus on long-term planning, aligning investments with community priorities, and ensuring that growth contributes positively to our tax base and service delivery.

When managed well, these challenges become opportunities to strengthen the city’s financial position, improve infrastructure, and enhance overall quality of life.

How does Oldsmar engage with its community and stakeholders to shape decision-making and foster a strong sense of place?

Community engagement is a core priority for the City Council and a key part of how we operate.

We have developed a community engagement framework that we use across projects and initiatives. Our focus is on transparency, accessibility, and creating meaningful opportunities for input, not just meeting minimum requirements.

We use multiple communication channels and prioritize clear, proactive messaging so residents understand how decisions affect them. That helps ensure decisions reflect both technical expertise and community values.

How do you see Oldsmar contributing to the Tampa Bay region’s economic landscape, and what role does the city play in supporting business growth and livability?

Oldsmar plays an important role in the regional economy by creating a strong environment for both residents and businesses. We are proud to have the second strongest manufacturing base in Pinellas County, which provides high-quality jobs and a stable economic foundation.

We also take an active approach to supporting our business community. That includes our Business Assistance Program in partnership with the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, as well as targeted ad valorem tax incentive programs for businesses in key industries that create quality jobs.

Through thoughtful land use planning, infrastructure investment, and maintaining a high quality of life, we support continued business growth and economic activity. Our location is a key advantage, and when combined with strategic planning, it positions us well for both business attraction and retention.

What are your key goals and priorities for Oldsmar over the next few years, and how do you see the city evolving within the Tampa Bay region?

The City’s priorities are set directly by the City Council. These include advancing a vibrant downtown corridor, maintaining and investing in existing infrastructure, expanding community engagement, enhancing roadway safety, completing improvements to our sports complex, and continuing to evaluate long-term infrastructure needs through master planning.

This clear set of priorities allows our administrative team to stay focused and ensures that our work reflects the issues most important to our residents. It also positions Oldsmar to continue evolving in a way that is both strategic and responsive to the community.