St. Petersburg College students and faculty presented findings from an eight‑week pro bono consulting pilot for the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition. Dr. Andy Rojas and student consultants shared micro‑ and macro‑level analysis, risk factors, and strategic recommendations aimed at making a proposed container‑village a sustainable destination.
Key recommendations included anchoring the project with a cluster of restaurants and entertainment venues to drive repeat visitation; creating a clear operational manual for tenants; and using low‑cost, high‑impact "guerrilla" marketing (the SPC team referenced examples such as an "orange bike" placement) to generate early buzz. The presentation recommended updating the project name to "groove crates of Clearwater" to strengthen cultural identity and support targeted promotion.
Trustees praised the project, noted the importance of a clear vision and tenant mix, and discussed integrating the SPC recommendations into future development and outreach. Staff indicated interest from local operators and affordable‑housing developers and said monitoring and follow‑up would continue as the North Greenwood CRA advances redevelopment activities.