Brief History

Soaring City: Transforming Suitcase City into Uptown’s Innovation Hub

Soaring City, formerly known as the Tampa Innovation Partnership (TIA), is a visionary organization dedicated to the transformation and revitalization of the area once disparagingly called “Suitcase City.” Through years of strategic planning, community engagement, and collaborative efforts, Soaring City has successfully rebranded this area into the thriving Uptown Innovation District—a nexus of innovation, education, and economic growth.

Founding and Early Initiatives (2015-2016)

• January 2015: The journey began with the official launch of the Tampa Innovation Alliance (TIA), comprising four founding members: the University of South Florida (USF), Moffitt Cancer Center, Busch Gardens, and Florida Hospital. Mark Sharpe, a key figure in this movement, addressed over 150 attendees at the USF Research Park, setting the vision for the transformation.
• Expansion of Membership: Within a year, TIA expanded its membership to include RD Management, the University Area Community Development Corporation (UACDC), and the VA Hospital, alongside over 230 other members. An advisory board was established, chaired by Clarence Eng of Kimley-Horn, which led several transportation studies for the University Area.
• Gateway and Transportation Studies: Initiatives like the Fowler Gateway Study, funded by the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and studies led by AECOM and Ken Stapleton, laid the groundwork for infrastructural improvements. These studies contributed to the Florida Department of Transportation District 7’s (FDOT-7) decision to transform Fowler Avenue into an Innovation Gateway and world-class corridor.

Community Engagement and Innovation Gatherings (2015-2017)

• First Annual Innovation Gathering (October 2015): Hosted at the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), the event featured Bruce Katz from the Brookings Institution, who spoke on Innovation Districts. This gathering fostered collaboration among stakeholders and set the tone for future innovation-focused events.
• Tech Hire Grant (June 2016): Collaborating with CareerSource Tampa Bay, Soaring City helped secure a $3 million federal Tech Hire Grant to enhance tech workforce development over three years. The organization executed the community engagement component, fostering opportunities for local talent in the tech industry.
• State Grant for Rebranding and Studies: A $1.25 million state grant facilitated a comprehensive rebranding exercise by Chappell Roberts, leading to the transition from TIA to the Tampa Innovation Partnership. Funds were also allocated for community engagement plans and transportation studies by firms like Sam Schwartz Engineering and Kimley-Horn, further advancing infrastructural planning.
• Community Hackathon (June 2016): A three-day hackathon at Crossover Church resulted in a new system for tracking homelessness in Hillsborough County, which was eventually adopted by the state of Florida.

Strategic Partnerships and Infrastructure Development (2017-2019)

• Yuengling Collaboration (2017): Mark Sharpe spearheaded efforts to bring the Yuengling family to Tampa. Meetings with key civic leaders and visits to Pottsville, PA, culminated in plans for the Yuengling Hospitality House on 30th Street, which opened in June 2023.
• Uptown Circulator Pilot Project (Spring 2017): Initiated a joint pilot project with Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) to test a circulator in the University area, leading to future plans for an Uptown Circulator to improve local transportation.
• County Collaboration: Responding to requests from Hillsborough County, Soaring City provided monthly updates on their work plan, leading to the Uptown Master Planning effort launched in 2019. This collaboration aimed at comprehensive area development, although the Master Plan utilized significantly less funding than authorized, demonstrating fiscal responsibility.
• USF Institute of Applied Engineering (May 2019): Facilitated the allocation of $5 million from Hillsborough County, matched by $5 million from USF, to launch the USF Institute of Applied Engineering at the RITHM (Redevelopment Innovation and Technology Hub of Metro Tampa Bay). RD Management contributed over $1 million to build out the space, fostering innovation and research off the USF campus.

Master Planning and Opportunity Zones (2020-2021)

• Master Plan Study Launch (2020): Engaged with the Boston Consulting Group and Faegre Baker Daniels to initiate an Opportunity Zone Study, focusing on investment strategies in the newly designated Uptown Opportunity Zone, particularly where RITHM is located.
• Community Briefings and Adaptations: Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Soaring City continued to brief stakeholders and adapt plans to ensure ongoing development and engagement within the community.

Resilient Community Initiatives and Advanced Tech Training (2021-2022)

• Florida Blue Partnership (2021): Received a $750,000 grant from Florida Blue to build a more resilient community aimed at ending generational poverty. Despite tight timelines, Soaring City established programs, hired key personnel, and created advisory boards to manage the initiative, including setting up tech training programs at the old mall.
• Advanced Tech Workforce Training: Collaborated with the Boston Consulting Group to develop a world-class advanced tech workforce training program. This initiative focused on training the next generation of tech-enabled blue-collar workers, ensuring the Uptown community had access to cutting-edge technology.

Recent Achievements and Ongoing Projects (2022-Present)

• State of Uptown Event (2022): Hosted an event at the Florida Blue Black Box Accelerator (Bx2), where the Boston Consulting Group presented the proposed augmented reality program to the community. The Bx2 aimed to become an equivalent of Embarc Collective for Uptown residents.
• Opening of Yuengling Hospitality House (June 2023): Celebrated the culmination of years of collaboration with the grand opening of the Yuengling Hospitality House, adding a significant landmark and economic driver to Uptown.

Additional Community Impact

Soaring City has been instrumental in numerous other projects that have significantly impacted the Uptown area:

• Business Support: Assisted local businesses like Chicken Salad Chick and Fuzzy’s Tacos with permitting issues and encouraged new establishments like Dave’s Hot Chicken to open in Uptown.
• Urban Development: Advocated for the demolition of derelict properties, such as the old hotel on Busch Boulevard and the abandoned China Buffet on Fowler Avenue, leading to new developments like the Uptown Chick-fil-A.
• Safety and Community Programs: Partnered with Busch Gardens on noise abatement and safety programs, including addressing celebratory gunfire ordinances after a park guest was injured.
• Education Initiatives: Supported MORT Elementary School in achieving the Community School designation and facilitated the establishment of IDEA School at Uptown, replacing the old flea market with a modern educational facility.
• Infrastructure Improvements: Advocated for student housing projects, installation of traffic signals, and construction of sidewalks to enhance safety and accessibility.
• Collaboration with Developers: Assisted the Logan family in planning the development of their 45 acres into a “Midtown” type development, promoting urban revitalization.
• Tech and Innovation Hubs: Brought organizations like AMRoC Fab Lab and Vū Studio to RITHM, enhancing the technological landscape and providing resources for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Current Focus and Future Vision

Soaring City’s highest priority is the redevelopment of the Fowler Avenue Corridor. The organization aims to work closely with Omni Public, the state, and the city to guide plans for converting Fowler Avenue into a boulevard, enhancing connectivity between Uptown, downtown Tampa, Westshore, and the Tampa International Airport through premium transit solutions. This initiative is envisioned as a catalyst for economic growth, improved transportation, and heightened community engagement in Uptown.