SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve revised dates for the partnership with St. Petersburg College (SPC) to plan and execute a series of six themed Friday Night Markets on the 400-500 block of Cleveland Street, as an initiative under the Cleveland Street Activation Plan, for a not-to-exceed amount of $50,000, and approve the Downtown Development Board (DDB) to cover all costs directly associated with city fees.
Body
SUMMARY:
This item was previously presented to the Board in April 2025; however, due to unforeseen circumstances, all parties involved agreed it would be best to postpone the event to the beginning of the year to allow adequate time for marketing, coordination, and vendor engagement. The new proposed dates for the market series are January 9, January 16, January 23, January 30, February 6, and February 7 of 2026.
Market Proposal Details:
• Location: 400-500 Block of Cleveland Street
• Dates: January 9 - February 7 (six weeks)
o Friday Nights
• Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• Format: Up to 30 local vendors, including SPC student entrepreneurs and artists
• Entertainment: Live music, and other activities
Alignment with Strategic Goals:
The market aligns with:
• Downtown Development Board’s (DDB) mission to create a thriving downtown
• City of Clearwater’s Strategic Plan, Economic Opportunity Strategic Objectives:
o 2.1 Strengthen public-private initiatives that attract, develop, and retain diversified business sectors.
o 2.2 Cultivate a business climate that welcomes entrepreneurship, inspires local investment, supports eco-friendly enterprises, and encourages high-quality job growth.
o 2.3 Promote Clearwater as a premier destination for entertainment, cultural experiences, tourism, and national sporting events.
• Cleveland Street Activation Plan
Staff recommends approval of funding not to exceed $50,000 designated for SPC, approval of the revised market dates of January 9, January 16, January 23, January 30, February 6, and February 7, 2026, and approval for the DDB to cover all costs directly associated with city fees.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
1829411-558600 Marketing
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
2.1 Strengthen public-private initiatives that attract, develop, and retain diversified business sectors.
2.2 Cultivate a business climate that welcomes entrepreneurship, inspires local investment, supports Eco-friendly enterprises, and encourages high-quality job growth.
2.3 Promote Clearwater as a premier destination for entertainment, cultural experiences, tourism, and national sporting events.
