A unique and significant area at Tampa’s urban core lies on the Interbay peninsula between Tampa’s Kennedy Boulevard and the MacDill Air Force Base.
South Tampa is quite literally in the middle of it all, with Tampa International Airport and the bustling Westshore District to the north, the adjacent downtown Tampa to the northeast and multiple cross-bay roadways extending into St. Petersburg. There is a strong sense of community here that translates into the highly supportive business environment, which truly sets South Tampa apart.
A boom of development in the nearby downtown and Westshore areas has spurred much economic and growth throughout South Tampa. The major Water Street live, work, play community underway in downtown Tampa is bringing with it thousands of new residents, an influx of relocating companies and even more visitors. Midtown Tampa, another live, work, play concept in the Westshore District, is one of several projects in the area impacting South Tampa and the region at large.
South Tampa is absolutely a part of all the action. Greater Tampa Bay’s top ranked hospital and also a nationally ranked hospital, Tampa General Hospital, is located within South Tampa. It is undergoing a $550 million expansion, which is expected to create nearly 6,000 new jobs.
MacDill Air Force Base in South Tampa is one of the reasons GTB has developed a strong defense and security economy. There are several large defense contracting companies in the area, including several in South Tampa. With more than 18,000 active duty, reserve and civilian personnel, the base is one of the five largest employers in Hillsborough County.
Shopping districts in South Tampa draw many visitors and stimulate the economy. Located along the border of Westshore and South Tampa, the International Plaza and Bay Street has more than 200 stores and more than 25 restaurants, plus numerous hotels and other businesses.
A steady stream of young talent flows from two of GTB’s highest ranked institutions, right here in South Tampa. Plant High School is the No. 1 best college prep public high school in the Tampa area, and the second-best public high school in the Tampa area, according to review site Niche. In addition, the University of Tampa, nationally ranked for many facets of academics, brings undergrad and graduate students across a variety of industries.
Amid the flurry of activity, South Tampa is a place that its residents love to call home. Longtime Tampanians describe a small-town feel with all the big-city amenities. Neighbors grow up together, and newcomers become part of the community. Whether large or small, new or multi-generational, the area’s many small business owners make a point of patronizing each other’s businesses. Collectively, it is a very tight-knit, welcoming and collaborative place for business.
This mindset has been instrumental to area businesses not only weathering the storm of the pandemic together, but actually growing through it. Dozens of small businesses opened here in the past several years, while residential growth climbs along with it.
Hyde Park is a notable neighborhood and one of South Tampa’s multiple historic districts. Within Hyde Park is the live, work, play community, Hyde Park Village. It is well known for its beautiful and historic homes, charming streets and common areas, the stylish shopping district with fine dining and, last but not least, its stunning co-working facility, Hyde House. The gallery-style co-working space houses private offices, creative studios, event space and common areas thoughtfully designed for a variety of professional and social settings.
A host of other co-work spaces dot the landscape in South Tampa, including CoCreativ, Workhouse and CoHatch. Several more are located along the fuzzy Westshore-South Tampa border, such as Centre Club Tampa, Regus and CoWork Tampa. The high concentration of co-work spaces are a testament to the community’s value of a social and supportive business community. These amenities not only meet the demand of the growing population of young professionals, but they facilitate collaborations and partnerships that translate to real, tangible benefits.
Convenience, connection and community are three key ingredients in South Tampa’s recipe for success — which only seems to get better, year after year.
Interested in getting connected with South Tampa? The South Tampa Chamber of Commerce has been serving the community for 95 years. Visit southtampachamber.org.
