What Makes Tampa One of the Most Exciting Cities in America

Craig Richard is the President and CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Council breaks down how talent, infrastructure, and place-based development are shaping Tampa’s rapid growth. They dive into migration trends, housing affordability, transportation projects like Brightline, and why Tampa’s future depends on smart public investment and regional cooperation.They also dig into the Tampa Bay Rays stadium talks and what a potential move across the bay could mean for Dale Mabry, surrounding neighborhoods, and the region’s long-term economic impact. The conversation looks at how major sports projects function as marketing engines for a city and how stadium development can act as a catalyst for broader mixed-use growth.0:00:00 - Introduction0:01:03 - Economic Development0:10:29 - UT Graduates0:14:57 - Public Investments0:27:52 - Brightline0:38:17 - Tampa’s Water0:42:36 - 3 Goals1:01:08 - Tampa Rays1:20:38 - Outro