The City of Tampa is the county seat and largest city in Hillsborough County and is the third-most populous city in Florida. Approximately one-third of Hillsborough County's population resides in the City of Tampa.
The City of Tampa is the economic hub of west central Florida. Its economy is founded on a diverse base that includes tourism, health care, finance, insurance, technology, construction, and maritime industry.
The City of Tampa is experiencing unprecedented growth in both development and population. The challenge for any local government experiencing growth is to manage it effectively and ensure that prosperity is shared equally across all its communities. To achieve these goals, in 2019 newly-elected Mayor Jane Castor worked to develop a 5-part vision for Tampa’s future.
Tampa’s Development and Economic Opportunity portfolio is the centerpiece of several aspects of the T3 Plan, including Development Services and Housing Affordability. The blueprint has been drawn and the work ahead will be sharply focused, yet deliberatively inclusive and collaborative. The long-term goal is a City that thrives and provides for all its residents and is positioned to continue to grow and prosper. Those goals are never more sharply in focus than now, while the City is faced with daunting challenges around keeping its citizens safe while restoring its economy.
The Development and Economic Opportunity portfolio is comprised of the following departments:
Development & Growth Management
The City of Tampa Development & Growth Management Department's function is to oversee the development of building structures that are compatible and compliant with applicable codes and ordinances. The department is comprised of the following divisions: Construction Services, Architectural Review & Historic Preservation, Housing & Community Development, Development Coordination, and Real Estate
City Planning
The City Planning Department fosters a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach in guiding growth, development, and redevelopment of the City of Tampa. The Department focuses on citywide planning initiatives that support the Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow (T3) Strategy and that enhance economic value, quality of life, community, and resiliency.
Tampa Convention Center
The Convention Center and Tourism Department is responsible for the generation of economic impact through the operation of Tampa’s Convention Center. The facility is a world-class event space located on the beautiful Tampa River Walk in the heart of downtown within walking distance of major hotels and restaurants. The Center features a 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall with 39 flexible meeting rooms and a ballroom accommodating up to 2,000 guests for dining, presentations, and more. Also located on-premise is The Sail which serves refreshing beverages to convention delegates and locals in a casual river-front outdoor setting with 360-degree panoramic views of our waterfront marina along the historic Hillsborough River.
Economic Opportunity
Overview – Economic Opportunity is responsible for developing and managing the City of Tampa’s initiatives to promote a comprehensive and strategic approach to economic development. It is also responsible for coordinating with the Community Redevelopment Department and directing other citywide revitalization initiatives and community planning. For current request for proposals, please visit our Request For Proposals page.