Subject:
Title
Grant award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for funding professional services for the Young-Rainey STAR Center redevelopment.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of a $240,000.00 U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant award to provide funds for the development of a Public Private Partnership Request for Negotiations (RFN) and a Development Agreement for the Young-Rainey STAR Center.
• The total project budget is $300,000.00 and the required local match is $60,000.00.
• The period performance for the grant is September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2028.
• The funding is for professional services to assist the County in concept refinement, RFN advertisement, evaluation reviews, selection and negotiation of the development agreement for the redevelopment of the Young-Rainey STAR Center.
• The County will engage CBRE to perform the Scope of Work in the EDA grant agreement.
• Funding for this agreement is available in the FY26 budget. Since the funds will likely not be spent in FY26, a the remaining funds will likely be proposed as part of a carry-forward amendment in FY27. Funding for future years is dependent on approval in the annual County Operating Budget.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County Infrastructure.
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.5 Foster business growth.
Summary:
The grant is between the EDA and the Pinellas County Government Board of County Commissioners. The grant will help fund consultant services for the RFN advertisement, review, selection and execution of a development agreement for the redevelopment of the STAR Center. The $240,000.00 grant requires a $60,000.00 County match.
Background/Explanation:
STAR Center facilities and infrastructure originated in 1957. Redevelopment is necessary for the continued success of this industrial campus, and it will provide new facilities and infrastructure designed to retain existing and attract new targeted industry companies. The County applied for and has been awarded an Economic Adjustment Assistance grant from the EDA. The funding supports the implementation phase of the transformative redevelopment of the STAR Center. The STAR Center is a vital component of the County’s industrial and innovation ecosystem, and its redevelopment will be delivered through a public-private partnership (P3) model. This model will engage a qualified private sector partner to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain new, state-of-the-art facilities across 69 acres of the site.
The tasks to be performed under this grant award are:
1) Formal Solicitation: Launching a competitive procurement process to identify a qualified private sector partner.
2) Selection and Negotiation: Evaluating proposals and negotiating a development agreement that defines roles, responsibilities and performance expectations.
3) Strategic Planning: Finalizing development phasing, infrastructure priorities and tenant engagement strategies.
The County will engage with CBRE to perform the Scope of Work. CBRE will guide County staff through the solicitation and developer selection process. This includes identifying qualified development teams, evaluating proposals, and supporting negotiations to ensure alignment with the County’s redevelopment goals and financial expectations.
Fiscal Impact:
Revenue in the amount of $240,000.00 will be paid to the County by the EDA.
Funding for this agreement is not included in the FY27 budget for Economic Development within the STAR Center Fund. However, the required funding is available in the FY26 estimate as a carry-forward amount and can be appropriated into the FY27 budget upon approval as a budget amendment. Funding for future years is dependent on approval in the annual County Operating Budget.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Director, Economic Development
Greg Concannon, Division Director, Economic Development
Partners:
U.S. Economic Development Administration
Attachments:
EDA-2025 Disaster Supplemental Agreement