St. Pete’s State of the Economy is Sunny

Innovation in St. Pete

In a recent ranking, Florida was ranked the #1 city in Florida for work-life balance and mental health, and #25 in the nation overall.   CoworkingCafe ranked 100 cities with at least 200,000 residents based on mental health metrics such as:

  • Amount of green space and recreational amenities;
  • Air quality; and
  • Work hours 

The study also looked at affordability, remote working prevalence, commute times, and how many residents had health insurance.

CoworkingCafe notes that “Since the pandemic, we’ve seen an attitudinal shift and an increased focus on work/life balance. This momentum stems from the workforce seeking fulfilling, holistic experiences and demanding more autonomy to customize their jobs in ways that help them support their families, enhance their wellness, and nurture their mental health. “

The Sunshine City’s quality of life helps employers attract and retain employees. Enrico Palmerino, founder of Botkeeper, which relocated its headquarters to St. Petersburg in 2023 said, “St. Pete was [more] artistic, romantic, and appeared to be going through a major boom that would be attractive for employees looking to relocate—this could only assist in my recruiting efforts.”

St. Pete has repeatedly been recognized as a haven for outdoor lovers and has been ranked a top city for outdoor enthusiasts , with the #1 parks system in Florida.

Shorter employee commute times have been one of the benefits businesses have seen when relocating to St. Petersburg.

And the City’s Healthy St. Pete initiative focuses on building a culture of health in our city by making the healthy choice the easy choice through a collaborative community effort. 


“Since the pandemic, we’ve seen an attitudinal shift and an increased focus on work/life balance. This momentum stems from the workforce seeking fulfilling, holistic experiences and demanding more autonomy to customize their jobs in ways that help them support their families, enhance their wellness, and nurture their mental health. .”
CoworkingCafe 2024

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Interested in learning how St. Pete helps innovative companies to thrive in our vibrant and authentically warm business community?

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Mike Swesey at St. Pete EDC

Mike Swesey

President & CEO

Contact for site selectors and companies considering relocation to or expansion in St. Pete

Samantha LoGrasso

Business Recruitment Manager

Contact for general inquiries and  initial exploration of St. Pete as a business location

Morgan Lazzara

Chief of Staff

Contact for CEO, Board, committees

Visit us in St. Pete

The St. Pete EDC is located at 111 2nd Ave NE, Ste. 610, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.  Parking is available in the Plaza LAZ lot located next to the building; use GPS for 221 1st St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, which is near the entrance located on 1st Street N. between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.  

Parking is $5/hour for the first 3 hours and $20 thereafter; it is a card payment facility only (no cash). Visitor parking is on the 1st and 4th floors; please note there is no handicapped access from the parking garage above the first floor. 

There is also surrounding street parking; pay with ParkMobile or in the Sundial Garage located 2 blocks away.

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We've moved! The St. Pete EDC office is now at 111 2nd Ave NE, Ste 610, St Petersburg, FL 33701