Westshore Alliance has prioritized specific initiatives to ensure that the District continues to grow and flourish. From beautification to transportation, we have plans to maintain and improve the District so it remains a vibrant and flourishing community.
The Westshore Alliance strives to promote Westshore as a regional activity center that is a vibrant business, residential and tourist community offering Tampa’s finest shopping, hotels, dining and entertainment.
The Alliance focuses on promoting the district as a destination for both company relocations and visitors. On behalf of Westshore Alliance members and Westshore area businesses and property owners, the Alliance undertakes a number of marketing endeavors, including the following:
Public safety and crime prevention is a top priority in the Westshore District, which is why the Alliance has close working relationships with the Tampa Police Department (TPD), business representatives and private property security personnel. We have implemented a number of educational programs to help ensure Westshore is a safe place for all workers, residents and visitors. Take advantage of these programs today:
The Alliance reviews the latest crime statistics & crime trend reports published by the Tampa Police Department (TPD) and implements initiatives to combat crime.
The “Monday Message” provides you with a snapshot of upcoming police-related events along with news you can use. The “Weekly Recap” provides you with a full summary of specific crimes that took place and any trends that you need to be aware of in your neighborhood along with tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim. These reports are emailed to those requesting them, to add your email please contact Shawn Fogarty.
To sign up for the quarterly Westshore Safety & Security E-News newsletter click here. Be sure to select Westshore Safety + Security News. Newsletter archives: May 2023 /Feb 2023 / Nov 2022 / June 2022 / May 2022 / Dec 2021 / May 2021 / Sept 2020 / May 2020 / May 2019 / Mar 2019 / Dec 2018 / Jun 2018 / Feb 2018 / Dec 2017 / Aug 2017 / May 2017 / Feb 2017 / Sept 2016 / Jun 2016
When the Alliance is alerted to criminal activity or a trend of crimes in the area, we email our member companies a BOLO: Be-On-the-Look-Out. When you receive this, you can transmit the news to all of your employees or tenants. The Alliance can attribute numerous success stories to conscientious members who have reported criminals in the act as a result of a BOLO email. Contact Shawn Fogarty to be added to the email distribution list.
The Alliance offers a number of free crime prevention programs. A one-hour company investment will yield better security and peace of mind! Email our Tampa Police Department Liaison, Detective Don Grau or call 813-354-6633 to schedule a free one hour program on any of the following topics:
Would you know what to do in an active shooter scenario? To schedule a free one-hour presentation and/or site evaluation at your location, email Officer Sean Mahabir, Special Incident Management Unit, Tampa Police Department | Special Operations Division or call (813) 480-1272. Presentations must be pre-scheduled and are offered Tuesday-Friday, 7am-1pm with 25+ confirmed attendees. Host must be able to provide space to accommodate 25+ guests, computer with PowerPoint and large monitor or screen/projector with sound.
Additional resources:
HURRICANE IAN RECOVERY RESOURCES: Our thoughts are with all those who were impacted by Hurricane Ian. We’ve compiled a list of recovery resources below. For volunteering or supporting recovery efforts, please visit www.VolunteerFlorida.org.
City of Tampa Resources Hillsborough County Resources DisasterAssistance.gov Disaster Loan Assistance for Small Businesses Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan SBA Business Physical Disaster Loan SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan SBA Small Business Development Centers Business Counseling FEMA Support FloridaDisaster.biz Florida DEO Business Damage Assessment Survey FloridaDisaster.org
Local American Red Cross City of Tampa Office of Emergency Management Find Your Flood Zone HART – Hurricane Evacuation Routes Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool (HEAT) SBDC Tampa Bay Business Continuity and Disaster Preparedness TBRPC All-Hazards Disaster Planning Guide Tampa Police District One Grid Map
State Florida Division of Emergency Management Florida Emergency Information Line 1-800-342-3557
Federal CDC Preparing for Hurricanes During the COVID-19 Pandemic Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Ready Business Hurricane Toolkit
NOAA/National Weather Service National Hurricane Center National Weather Service NOAA 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook
The City of Tampa Hurricane Re-Entry Program is for residents and businesses in the areas most likely to be evacuated during a hurricane event (within Zip Code areas: 33602, 33605, 33606, 33607, 33609, 33611, 33616, 33619, 33629 and MacDill Air Force Base 33621 shown on the map). It is designed to make it easier for residents and business representatives to re-enter the area after evacuation orders have been lifted.
During a catastrophic hurricane event, public safety officials will screen vehicles attempting to re-enter the impacted area. In an effort to avoid long lines, the vehicle Re-Entry Hang Tag will allow public safety officials to quickly identify vehicles approved to re-enter. Those vehicles will be waved through, bypassing the normal public screening required to enter the affected area. The Re-Entry Hang Tag Program will enhance safety and speed up the recovery process by getting residents and business representatives in. For more information or to request a pass, please click here.
Emergency Phone Numbers Emergency: 911 Electric Power Outage (TECO): 877-588-1010 Fallen Tree (Emergency After Hours): 813-931-2168 Hurricane Information Desk: 813-274-7700 Public Works (Emergency After Hours): 813-274-3101 Report Flooding: 813-274-3101 Wastewater (Sewer Back-up): 813-259-1693 Water Department Emergency Services: 813-274-7400
The Westshore Alliance has been instrumental in promoting beautification of the Westshore District through landscaping and improvements to medians, public right of way and parks. Working closely with the City of Tampa, Florida Department of Transportation and businesses in the Westshore District, we have made great strides to enhance our district through landscaping.
In recent years, the Alliance has secured over $1.3 million for landscaping in the medians and right of way along Dale Mabry Highway, Boy Scout Boulevard, Cypress Street and West Shore Boulevard and over $500,000 for improvements to Cypress Point Park.
We have also been actively involved in the design of the landscaping improvements associated with the Tampa Airport Interchanges project and the reconstruction of I-275. More than $3 million of new landscaping and irrigation has been installed along these major thoroughfares in Westshore.
Our next area of focus is the beautification of Kennedy Boulevard. We are actively working with the City of Tampa to develop plans for improvements along this important corridor that connects Westshore to downtown Tampa.
The Westshore Alliance created a committee to develop public art projects in Westshore. In just a few short years, we’ve created a splash through a series of public art exhibits including:
A signal box painting program that transformed traffic signal boxes into works of art. The program was done in partnership with area businesses and the City of Tampa.
The Expose Art of Westshore banner program, previously brought an outdoor gallery featuring the works of local artists to the streets of Westshore. In recent years, the works of more than 40 local artists were featured in colorful banners displayed along Kennedy and Boy Scout Boulevards, on George Bean Parkway at Tampa International Airport and at WestShore Plaza.
Reflections of Tampa Bay, featured the works of nearly 100 student artists from throughout the Westshore District. The artwork, displayed at Tampa International Airport, highlighted the Tampa community with a focus on our diversity, culture and history through the eyes of student artists.
Kinetic Ring Sculpture: The dream of our public art committee became a reality in 2012 when the first major public art piece was installed in Westshore. Mayor Bob Buckhorn, former Alliance Executive Director Ron Rotella and neighborhood representatives dedicated the “Kinetic Ring” at the highly traveled intersection of Kennedy Blvd. and Memorial Hwy. across from WestShore Plaza. Designed by local artist Catherine Woods, the steel and glass sculpture includes glass panels which are painted and etched with images taken from the area. The shape of the glass suggests a kinetic appearance. Woods’ large-scale sculptures can also be seen in St. Petersburg, FL, Reno, NV and Kansas City, KS. Read more.
For more details on our beautification efforts, contact Kevin O’Hare or call 813-289-5488.
