Mike Swesey, President & CEO, Greater St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation

July 2026 — Invest: spoke with Mike Swesey, president and CEO of the Greater St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation, about the region’s rapid inflow of headquarters relocations and the data-driven strategy behind St. Pete’s growing national profile. “We want companies to become St. Pete — not to change St. Pete, but to choose it because it’s the right cultural and strategic fit,” Swesey expressed.

What have been the most significant developments shaping St. Petersburg’s economy and the EDC’s work over the past year?

It has been a year of transition and resiliency. After the recent hurricane events, the community has been focused on building back, and we’ve done a great job of demonstrating strength. Tropicana Field is a good example — the lid is back on, construction is ahead of schedule, and it’s on track to reopen for the Tampa Bay Rays’ 2026 season. That has been a major confidence boost for the region.

On the corporate side, we’ve seen several major wins. Webull relocated its world headquarters from New York City to St. Petersburg and went public in 2025, which has brought new momentum as the company continues hiring locally. Dynasty Financial Group, which had also relocated from New York City, announced a significant expansion into newly completed office space and is growing toward 150-200 employees. ARK Invest is preparing to move into a new building under construction, and recently, Paris-based MADIC Group selected St. Petersburg for its North American headquarters. Those decisions contribute to a strong sense of growth and opportunity.

Planning continues for the 86-acre Gas Plant District in downtown. As those plans move forward, we expect national attention. It represents one of the premier development opportunities in the Southeast, and likely one of the biggest in the country.

What challenges or opportunities have emerged alongside this wave of relocations and growth?

The main challenge remains awareness. We need to continue telling our story and reinforcing that St. Petersburg is a place for business. We’re open for business, and companies should see us as a competitive option for growth. Tampa Bay overall has tremendous assets, and our job is to elevate that message nationally.

Workforce is another area of focus. Tampa Bay has a strong labor pool, including more than 100,000 college students in the region and roughly 30,000 graduates each year. We also see a steady influx of younger people moving here, which replenishes the pipeline annually. At the same time, affordability remains a national concern. We need to ensure St. Pete and the region remain accessible for younger workers who want to live close to where they work. We’re doing a fairly good job of staying ahead of those pressures, but it remains something to monitor as the market grows.

How would you describe the strength of the local talent pipeline, and what partnerships are supporting its growth?

Our talent pipeline is strong, growing and young. We have a higher percentage of millennials and Gen Z in the workforce than many cities, and that demographic continues to grow. That’s a real advantage for companies seeking an energetic and tech-savvy labor pool.

We work closely with partners across the region. Pinellas County has introduced a new workforce program focused on upskilling employees, and we collaborate with local colleges on training programs. The state also provides workforce training tools that companies can tap into. Whether an employer is bringing new workers to the area or upskilling existing employees, we help connect them with the right resources.

What are your top priorities for the next few years, and how are you positioning St. Pete nationally?

One major priority is the national PR campaign we launched in 2025. We’ve been working aggressively with media outlets to tell St. Petersburg’s story and will continue that effort. Ensuring national decision-makers are aware of our momentum is crucial.

Regionalism is another key priority. Tampa Bay is a market of about 3.5 million people, and companies evaluate regions based on population scale, workforce availability and overall assets. When Tampa Bay markets itself, we highlight the beaches, the international airport, professional sports teams, museums and quality of life. We want companies to see the full picture, and St. Petersburg is part of a thriving regional ecosystem with significant opportunities for growth.

How has the “Become St. Pete” brand reframed the way you market the region?

Become St. Pete represents a shift in our approach. Instead of promoting the organization, we promote the region directly. The brand name itself communicates exactly what we want companies to do. We want companies to become St. Pete — not to change St. Pete, but to choose it because it’s the right cultural and strategic fit.

Our message is that companies should see St. Petersburg as a place where they can grow, embrace the lifestyle and become part of the community. Our recent success stories, including SmartChoice, Dynasty, ARK Invest and Webull, reflect that mindset. These companies relocated from New York City and have fully embraced St. Pete’s authenticity and quality of life.

How has your data-driven approach to business attraction evolved over the past year?

Data is central to our work. We use analytics to identify companies across the country and internationally that may be ready for a relocation or expansion. Our tools help us assess whether a company is likely to consider the Southeast, Florida, Tampa Bay, or St. Petersburg specifically.

From there, we conduct targeted outreach to those companies and provide detailed comparisons on what it looks like to do business here versus in markets like New York or Boston. It’s a way of educating prospects with clear information about costs, workforce, lifestyle and growth potential. Data reinforces our message and makes the decision-making process more tangible for executives.

Which industries are driving growth right now, and where are you seeing the most momentum?

Technology continues to be a major driver, particularly finance and fintech, which have long been strengths in St. Petersburg. We’re also seeing exciting momentum in marine technology and life sciences technology.

We’ve made corporate headquarters a target industry. Our success in attracting headquarters from high-cost cities has proven that model. If a company in Manhattan with 50 to 100 employees needs to double in size, analyzing the costs of staying versus relocating often leads them to consider Florida. We make sure St. Pete is in that conversation.

How would you describe the current office landscape in St. Petersburg?

Vacancy rates remain relatively low, and that hasn’t shifted much since last year. We can generally meet the needs of small and mid-sized users, but larger spaces are still limited. However, new projects are coming online.

Halcyon, a 150,000-square-foot Class A office building, is expected to break ground in early 2026, with several floors already committed. A new residential tower with 400 units also includes office space, and companies like Dynasty are moving in. As they relocate, their former space becomes available, creating a healthy domino effect.

While we would like availability to grow faster, especially because we are actively recruiting companies, we are starting to see more options in the market. Availability is critical because our job is to fight to get on a company’s shortlist and then fight harder to stay on it. Having the right space is essential at both stages.

How has your vision for St. Petersburg’s economic future changed, and what is your outlook for the coming years?

The outlook is very strong. Newly arrived companies are entering new phases of growth, long-established employers are expanding, and advanced manufacturing firms are doing high-tech work that elevates the region’s profile. Our entrepreneurial ecosystem is also gaining momentum. Spark Labs, formerly the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, has been rebranded and is attracting activity from early-stage technology companies.

When you combine that with our young workforce, headquarters relocations, innovation pipeline and quality of life, the path forward for St. Petersburg is incredibly promising. We see a future where St. Pete is recognized nationally as a hub for innovation-driven, sustainable economic growth.