Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 3-26-21

Local
City Council Gives Green Light To Hanna Avenue Municipal Project
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
Multiple departments from the City of Tampa made presentations before City Council last Thursday to an- swer some questions asked by Council members initially about the plans for the pro- posed Hanna Avenue City Mu- nicipal Facility.
The second meeting before the City Council was led by project leader, Sal Ruggiero, Deputy Administrator of In- frastructure Services Biogra- phy and Logistics .
The plan will include de- molishing the building that was once a cable and electrical warehouse that sits on 13 acres on Hanna Avenue that was purchased by the city in 2014. The new site would house 6 City departments: code en-
forcement, economic develop- ment, construction services, minority business develop- ment, information technology, and workforce development. Approximately 500 city em- ployees would occupy the space.
Brenda McKenzie, Direc- tor of Workforce Partnerships and Special Projects for the City of Tampa, says that Work- force will play a major role at the new city office facility.
“We are one piece of the project with a major presence on the first floor,” she states.
The plan is to help bring down walls that restrict job op- portunities and open it up to many different models for learning and job training. The new Workforce office will offer multiple roads to more per- sonalized training environ- ments.
BRENDA MCKENZIE Work- force Partnerships & Special Projects Director, City of Tampa
Ms. McKenzie states that Workforce is looking at what industries and businesses are growing and what businesses are offering opportunities for job growth. Preparing clients
to meet those needs is just one of the imperatives for the new location.
McKenzie made strong points on the need for the new building.
Logistics & Asset Manage- ment Director, Adri Colina stated, “Mayor Jane Castor has been committed to bring- ing city government to the neighborhoods since day one. The Hanna Avenue Municipal Office Complex, makes that commitment a reality and will become an economic engine for this neighborhood.”
“We will provide customers with convenient access to some of the City services they pay for. Small, women-owned, and minority owned busi- nesses that want to become certified through the Equal Business Opportunity office or, those pursuing home own-
ership can meet with the Housing team by walking, bik- ing, driving, or riding the bus if they like. The bus stop is only a five-minute walk away.”
“The facility will house em- ployees with more than six City Departments who will be- come neighbors that take pride in the community and frequent the local restaurants and shops. This project has the rare opportunity to hit all five of Mayor Castor’s Trans- forming Tampa’s Tomorrow Strategic Goals – goals that benefit the community.”
“The City of Tampa is look- ing forward to partnering with and hearing from the commu- nity – our neighbors. We want this facility to be a place that we are all proud of” Colina concluded.
City Council unanimously passed the project.
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