Kriseman selects two local companies to develop 22nd Street South Commerce Park site

ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Rick Kriseman has selected two local companies, EMP Industries and Euro Cycles, to expand business operations in St. Petersburg’s Commerce Park, creating 65 new jobs for the area. These jobs, serving the newly established South St. Petersburg Community Reinvestment Area, will satisfy federal job creation criteria for Commerce Park.

Business Term Sheets, outlining the major elements of each project, have been completed.

Development of the Commerce Park site is one critical component of the mayor’s larger strategy and commitment to catalyze economic growth on the 22nd Street South corridor, in keeping with the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Plan.

 Major elements include the following:

• EMP Industries, Inc. will lead a mixed-use development project that will create 50 new jobs within the first two years of the project. They will co-locate with two companies from outside the area, ACCMAR Equipment Company from Miami, and ATTAJ Energy from Spain. In addition, the development will include workforce housing and retail facing 22nd Street South. In total, EMP and its partners will develop 10.6 acres of the 14-acre site. This cluster of marine-related companies fits into the “Grow Smarter Strategy” recently unveiled by the City and the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We are very excited to develop the St. Petersburg Commerce Park, with new and modern manufacturing space for our industrial occupants to grow their businesses in St. Petersburg and generate jobs within the community. The blend of specialty and marine manufacturing, with retail and residential elements will be a great fit in the area, complementing the Deuces Live Main Street and the ArtsXchange. We believe strongly in the potential for specialty manufacturing in St. Petersburg, with the geographic advantages and the resources the city and community offer for business growth,” said Tom Callahan, president, EMP Industries, Inc.

• Euro Cycles is a motorcycle sales, repair and training business. The Commerce Park will be the location for their second store, the other being located in Hillsborough County. They will create 15 new jobs within the first two years of the project.

“I am honored to be given the chance to help make St. Petersburg’s already amazing arts and culture scene even better by bringing high end European Motorcycles and Scooters to the local area,” said Aaron Sprague of Euro Cycles.

The next step in this process is to finalize the Development Agreement with both companies prior to City Council for approval.

“The Commerce Park has been a focus of my administration. I am pleased we have attracted these outstanding businesses to the area. I am particularly looking forward to the final lease negotiations with these two companies,” said Mayor Kriseman.