A growing number of diverse entrepreneurs are choosing to transition their home-based businesses to commercial spaces on major corridors throughout St. Petersburg. If this describes you, consider participating in the new CATCH Commercial Program – a six-week training and development series tailor-made for entrepreneurs who have never leased commercial space or who have tried but did not find their successful formula the first time.
This “accelerator” series is designed using the approach of the highly successful CATCH Program by the Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corp., Right Turn Realty, the 2020 Plan, the City of St. Petersburg Urban Affairs Division, and others.
The original CATCH Program launched in 2016 as a 15-week training, coaching and capital access program, originally funded by the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.
It has since expanded, thanks to support from Wells Fargo, Fifth Third Bank, City of Clearwater, City of Tampa, and others.
From its origins in South St. Pete, CATCH is now offered in three cities on both sides of Tampa Bay – St. Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater – and has graduated 240 entrepreneurs.
This same team will develop CATCH Commercial as a six-week intensive introduction to the world of commercial space leasing. Elements of the program include:
- Expert Training: CATCH Commercial will host four weekly 2-hour training sessions from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday evenings, with expert facilitators and dinner provided, for entrepreneurs to learn more about the structure of commercial leases; budgeting the added costs involved in sustaining leases; resources needed for compliance in commercial spaces; and other topics.
- Lease Space Touring: Participants will visit four commercial spaces in the South St. Petersburg CRA and downtown St. Pete to explore the range of formats, on-site services and amenities, and lease rates available to them.
- Introductions: During a dedicated meeting, the CATCH Commercial team will introduce participants to local vendors to support various needs such as build-out of lease space, signage, and equipment.
- Investment: The program will provide $1,000 investments toward space leasing costs (for completers of the training series and tour) or capacity-building costs that prepare entrepreneurs to occupy lease space.
The program is generously funded by the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.
Who Can Participate
This first cohort of CATCH Commercial will work with entrepreneurs who have never before leased business space or who have leased space before but did not find success the first go round.
Participants should meet the following criteria:
- Already in business, with either a business tax certificate from the City of St. Petersburg or a corporate filing at Sunbiz.org
- Have considered or are considering leasing a space for business operations, at Sankofa on the Deuces or other locations in St. Petersburg
- Operate a business or plan to operate a business that is or will be located within or substantially serve clients or customers in the City of St. Petersburg
- Have participated in trainings and programs by any of the business development organizations listed below.
- Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation
- 2020 Plan/One Community
- Pinellas County Urban League SBA
- Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council
- St. Petersburg Business League
- Florida SBDC at Pinellas County
- The St. Petersburg Greenhouse
The Program Schedule
Interested parties can apply to the program through July 31, 2022. Program activities will begin in mid-August and end in early October.
Click here to apply to the 1st cycle of CATCH for Commercial Space Users.
About Sankofa on the Deuces
Sankofa on the Deuces is a two-building, two-story development that will house 56 tenants in traditional and micro spaces for retail, office, food, and entertainment venues, plus coworking spaces. An on-site digital & creative tech incubator will help bridge start-ups into the city’s emerging equity and venture capital pipeline.
Sankofa on the Deuces will be developed on a vacant 2.8-acre assemblage, owned by the City, at 621, 625, 631 & 641 on 22nd Street South in St. Petersburg, Florida. The location is diagonally across the street from the Historic Manhattan Casino and immediately north of the planned home of a world-class Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum.
On-site amenities will include smart tech meeting and training rooms; a mini office supply store; locked mailboxes; and a kitchen with a coffee-beverage bar and concessions.
Supportive technology will include high-speed Wi-Fi, printers, copiers, scanners and 3D Printers, an on-line space reservation tool, and access to free & discounted business software.
To Apply or Learn More
Click here to apply to the 1st cycle of CATCH for Commercial Space Users.
Tahisia Scantling, MSA, Commercial Broker, Right Turn Realty, LLC
& Co-Creator, the CATCH Program
800-867-5503 / Tahisia@rturnrealty.com
