Spotlight On: Ken Welch, Mayor, City of St. Petersburg
June 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch highlighted the Gas Plant District redevelopment, a key project to bring jobs and affordable housing to the city. He emphasized strong collaboration across Tampa Bay to drive recovery and growth initiatives. “We have the knowledge, skills, and science to understand and address these issues, not only for today but for the future,” he said.
What were some key highlights or accomplishments for St. Pete over the past year?
This past year produced great achievements and extraordinary challenges. Hurricanes Helene and Milton produced significant flood and wind damage, and heightened awareness of the potential impacts of storms to our economy, infrastructure, and quality of life. However, these challenges also highlighted what makes us strong: our ability to adapt, collaborate, and innovate. The strength of neighbor helping neighbor, of community organizations, businesses, and our local, state, and federal partners working together to help our community recover and rebuild. It was uplifting to see that spirit of purpose and partnership in action.
Beyond that, we’re focusing on five foundational pillars: housing, economic development, infrastructure, education and youth, and neighborhood health and safety. For instance, we’ve committed $740 million in our five-year capital improvement plan for infrastructure, addressing stormwater and water systems to better handle the increasing impact of storms. With unprecedented storm surge and debris levels — over 800,000 cubic yards in just four weeks — it’s clear we need to accelerate infrastructure upgrades to make the city more resilient for the future.
What are the main industries driving economic growth in St. Pete, and are there specific sectors you’re targeting for future growth?
St. Pete has a diverse economy, which some may not realize. Tourism is a key driver, especially for Pinellas County, but we also have strong sectors in technology, health sciences, and marine sciences. Our Innovation District has been a magnet, attracting leaders like Cathy Wood. Recently, Foot Locker moved its headquarters here, making it our third Fortune 500 company. The health sector is especially robust, comparable to top areas nationwide. Plus, there’s a powerful entrepreneurial spirit here. All of these factors make St. Pete an appealing and resilient destination for diverse industries.
How is the city scaling its infrastructure to support regional growth?
Our growth and density are happening in areas that have been planned for decades, such as downtown St. Pete, the Gateway area, and Tyrone. These areas have the capacity for water, sewer, and other essentials. The real challenge is adjusting to environmental changes. For example, recent storms forced us to shut down two sewer plants for the first time due to an unprecedented 8-foot surge, whereas these plants had previously been safe at 4 feet. We’re now focused on what we call our St. Pete Agile Resilient Plan, which means re-evaluating all infrastructure against new data and potential future impacts, like sea level rise, and quickly adapting our strategies accordingly.
Are there any initiatives aimed at improving transportation, mobility, or other infrastructure in St. Pete?
Transportation is one area where we’re catching up with the rest of the nation. We have the SunRunner, Tampa Bay’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) project, which has been a great addition. The new Howard Frankland Bridge is also being built to support either light rail or BRT, which will enhance connectivity across the bay. We’re also considering a BRT corridor along US-19, which will bring transit-oriented development benefits similar to rail, but with fewer challenges. With projects like the express lanes on I-275 and the Gateway Expressway, which now connects St. Pete to North County with minimal stops, we’re making it easier to move around the Bay Area.
How is St. Pete collaborating with neighboring cities, the state, and other entities to address regional challenges and advance economic goals?
Collaboration has been crucial, especially in the wake of recent hurricanes. I’ve met with officials at every level, from the governor to the director of FEMA, to coordinate on recovery and rebuilding. In Pinellas County, we work together as a unified voice on major issues, such as securing FEMA protocols and establishing a Disaster Recovery Center in St. Pete. For example, we were able to obtain a commercial and private property waiver, thanks to a coordinated effort led by Commissioner Peters and myself, in my role as chair of the Pinellas Council of Mayors. Speaking as one voice helps us get real results, and that collaboration is a strength across our 24 cities in the county.
How is St. Pete incorporating diversity into its planning and ensuring community needs are represented?
Before I came into office, a disparity study showed we were underutilizing minority- and women-owned businesses, so we used that data to create an outreach plan to improve access for these businesses to work with the city. We implemented it through an ordinance, aligning with similar county efforts, to ensure that small businesses have a fair chance. A great example was our response after Hurricane Helene. We launched “Hometown Haulers,” offering $300 per load for anyone with a truck, license, and insurance to help clear storm debris. Over 4,000 loads were hauled, getting our streets cleared faster and involving more of the community directly in recovery efforts.
What are your top priorities and objectives for the St. Pete community over the next few years?
Our focus remains on five key pillars: safe and healthy communities, infrastructure, environmental resilience, economic development, youth and educational opportunities, and housing. Each of these areas will see continued investment through our budget, and we’re advancing major projects that support these goals, like the historic Gas Plant District redevelopment and the Marina at Albert Whitted Airport, which we’re restoring after recent storm damage. Housing affordability is especially critical, as we want residents to be able to live within the city rather than commuting long distances, which impacts our economy. Additionally, resilience has become an urgent priority. We’re updating, funding, and implementing our resilience plan to ensure our community can withstand future challenges.
Our motto, “We are St. Pete,” isn’t just a slogan, it’s a reminder that we face challenges together, as one community. While recent storms have had a devastating impact, with over 15,000 homes damaged, our community is resilient. We have the knowledge, skills, and science to understand and address these issues, not only for today but for the future. This is an exciting time to be mayor and to work with our colleagues across Tampa Bay. We’re ready to tackle what comes next and make St. Pete stronger for generations to come.
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