Tampa is distinguished as Florida’s second largest city as well as the second-largest employment market, a trend that is likely to continue. Tampa’s economic development planners are often recognized among the nation’s most successful. They have attracted billions of dollars in capital investments by major corporations and are consistently growing new employment opportunities for the region.
The lively and handsome waterfront downtown is constantly shifting its skyline to welcome spectacular accommodations and new attractions. Major venues like the Tampa Convention Center are also within walking distance of wonderful districts like the Channelside Shops. This delightful area is filled with restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment opportunities. Wonderfully unique, the historic and colorful enclave of Ybor City with its Latin influences and cigar-making heritage is now a delightful district filled with art and culture, retail shops, and restaurants. Throughout the city, quiet neighborhoods with a variety of home styles and prices provide a welcoming and intimate community spirit.
Public and private schools throughout the city join a variety of higher education opportunities on community or junior college campuses or major private and public universities. Tampa serves as the hub for the county’s finest educational and healthcare facilities, adding valuable resources to western Florida and the entire Tampa Bay region. Amenities throughout the city are first-rate and abundant, including one of the nation’s finest zoos, Tampa Museum of Art, the Henry B. Plant Museum, the Florida Aquarium, and USF Contemporary Art Museum. With 24 square miles of inland water and Tampa Bay as well as the city’s own highly developed recreational centers, the possibilities for outdoor adventure and relaxation are virtually unlimited.