Madeline Manlove
On December 15, 2021, the St. Petersburg Maritime and Defense Technology Hub experienced its soft launch in the Innovation District. The event was attended by future tenants and Innovation District leaders, who were treated to hors d’oeuvres, drinks from local establishment 3 Daughters Brewing, tours of the facility, and just a few passing clouds at 76°F—perfect for enjoying the Hub’s unique sunset view of Tampa Bay and the picturesque neighborhoods just south of downtown.
Spearheaded by the district’s Executive Director, Alison Barlow, this former SRI International building boasts 32,386 sq. ft. of space. 90% of that space is already claimed by committed companies working at the intersection of technology, defense, and research. Perhaps most notable among these is Pole Star Global, an industry leader in generating the global positioning data of ocean vessels.
For many tenants, the waterfront location of the Hub is attractive for more than just a nice view; the Florida Flood Hub, a research institute dedicated to addressing rising sea levels, will also be a tenant. With friends in the neighborhood including (but not limited to) the Florida Fish and Wildlife Institute, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Coastal and Marine Science Center, and a U.S. Coast Guard station, the goal of the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub is to foster communication and collaboration between public and private organizations with overlapping missions.
This is especially exciting for future Hub tenant, PVM, Inc.
Specializing in big data—a tool that grows more ubiquitous across sectors by the day—means that we can be of service to virtually any of our upcoming friends and neighbors at the Hub. Our mission is to help our clients and partners achieve their mission, and the Innovation District offers a wealth of missions that are by turns commendable and inspiring. We can't wait to get our hands dirty with the good works being done right here in St. Petersburg, FL!