Dear Director Smith:
I’m writing on behalf of the Tampa Bay Partnership to pledge our support for Tampa Bay Wave in their proposal for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (US EDA) Build to Scale (B2S) 2022 Venture Challenge Grant Competition. Their proposal, the Tampa Bay Cybersecurity, FinTech & HealthTech Innovation Network, will fill a critical gap in our local startup ecosystem.
The Tampa Bay Partnership is a coalition of regional business and not-for-profit leaders representing nearly 40 companies and approximately 80,000 jobs. We have a vested interest in high-impact economic development initiatives which will accelerate local job creation in the Tampa Bay region.
Projects like the proposed Tampa Bay Cybersecurity, FinTech & HealthTech Innovation Network will leverage the Tampa Bay region’s industry strengths in cybersecurity, finance, and healthcare. Such jobs are key to growing our region’s Per Capita Gross Domestic Product, which languishes far below the US average, as well as our peer and aspirational markets. Advancements in the proposal will create robust tech-innovation creating opportunities for greater startup density while increasing the region’s global competitiveness and creating high-wage local jobs.
Given Tampa Bay Wave’s long-term commitment to the region and history of success, we support their 2022 Build to Scale Venture Challenge Grant application. We are confident this proposal will accelerate the growth of innovation-based, high-growth companies and drive a more diversified and more resilient regional economy in Tampa Bay.
Sincerely,
Bemetra Simmons
President and CEO
Tampa Bay Partnership