The St. Pete Economic Development Corp. has earned a silver w3 Award for its Become St. Pete website in the 20th Annual w3 Awards competition. The w3 Awards celebrate outstanding digital content, experiences, and creativity across websites, social media, online marketing, mobile apps, video, podcasts, and emerging technologies.
Evaluated by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA)—an assembly of industry leaders from organizations like Walt Disney Studios, Netflix, IBM, PepsiCo, The National Gallery of Art, and McCann—the w3 Awards maintain rigorous standards of excellence.
The Become St. Pete website serves as a comprehensive resource for organizations considering St. Petersburg, Florida as their next business home. The digital platform illustrates the city’s compelling value proposition: favorable business conditions in Florida paired with a genuine sense of community and intentional inclusivity, a workforce driving innovation and expansion, and a desirable coastal setting that strengthens companies’ ability to build high-performing teams.
Debuting in March 2025 with new organizational branding, the visual identity draws from classic Florida postcard aesthetics and St. Petersburg’s pioneering role in aviation. The color story—featuring ocean blues, sky tones, and sunset yellows—conveys the region’s natural environment. The pelican, deeply connected to the city’s identity and shared by the EDC’s cornerstone partners (the City of St. Pete and St. Pete Chamber), takes center stage with wings that evoke coastal movement and represent the area’s hospitable business culture. Rather than leading with the organization itself, the EDC intentionally centers the location—a fresh approach in the economic development sector.
St. Pete-based brand consultancy Coconspirator developed the digital experience to mirror the city’s dynamic character. Rich visual storytelling through photos and video showcases the region’s scenic appeal and professional talent base, while custom design elements reference the city’s creative community and entrepreneurial spirit.
This collaborative project brought together business and marketing leaders from across the community and was supported by a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation
The 20th Annual w3 Awards attracted thousands of entries from around the world, submitted by advertising agencies, PR firms, digital agencies, in-house creative teams, web designers, graphic designers, and independent creators—all competing to demonstrate their finest work on a global platform.
For more information about the w3 Awards, visit w3award.com.
Learn more about St. Petersburg’s business opportunities at becomestpete.com
