The Mosaic Company donates $150,000 in support of Tampa Bay Economic Prosperity Foundation


February 14, 2023



Grant will fund the Foundation’s Inclusive Economic Growth Initiative.

Mosaic Senior Vice President – Government and Public Affairs Ben Pratt presents Tampa Bay EDC President and CEO Craig Richard and Tampa Bay Economic Prosperity Foundation Chair Dr. Ken Atwater with a check for $150,000.

Tampa, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2023) – Today, the Tampa Bay Economic Prosperity Foundation announced a gift of $150,000 received from The Mosaic Company in support of its Inclusive Economic Growth Initiative. This Initiative, which focuses on job creation, skills training, and capital investment in disadvantaged areas of Hillsborough County including East Tampa, Central Park and Ybor City, and Uptown, will play a significant role in advancing the economic prosperity of residents and businesses in these neighborhoods and aligns with the local government priorities for workforce and community development.

“We’re grateful to have The Mosaic Company’s support as we ramp up the Inclusive Economic Growth Initiative’s efforts to establish an industrial hub for manufacturing, distribution and logistics in East Tampa,” said Craig J. Richard, President and CEO of the Tampa Bay Economic Prosperity Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate organization of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. “The lack of long-term investment in this neighborhood has resulted in fewer career opportunities for local residents and challenges for the industrial businesses located there.”

The Tampa Bay Economic Prosperity Foundation launched a capital campaign in 2021 to raise funds for the Inclusive Economic Growth Initiative. With this grant from The Mosaic Company, the Foundation has raised over $1.5 million toward its $2 million capital campaign goal.

“Mosaic is dedicated to supporting the communities where we live and work through important partnerships, like this one, that focus on reducing barriers in areas that are historically underserved or underrepresented,” said Ben Pratt, Senior Vice President Government and Public Affairs of The Mosaic Company. “Improving access to training, job growth, and new business enhances the whole community.”

The Mosaic Company and The Mosaic Company Foundation globally invests an average of $15 million each year in partnership with and support of organizations and initiatives that create lasting impact in three focus areas: food, water and local community improvement.

In fiscal year 2022, which ended September 30, the Foundation’s Inclusive Economic Growth Initiative launched CertUp Tampa, a multimedia campaign created to promote awareness among residents of East Tampa, Central Park and Ybor City about short-term career training programs for high-demand jobs that offer good pay and great opportunities for advancement with local employers.

The Foundation team also met with dozens of community stakeholders in East Tampa to better understand the unique challenges and potential of the industrial businesses in the area. After issuing a request for proposals from 12 highly regarded urban planning and land use firms, the Foundation hired GAI Consultant’s Community Solutions Group to produce the East Tampa Industrial District Master Plan. The new district will be a branded hub for manufacturing, logistics and distribution. The project includes base mapping and inventory of infrastructure and property in the district, engagement with existing business and property owners and residents, workshops, identification of potential sites for new construction, and many other deliverables resulting in the draft conceptual plan. The first draft of the East Tampa Industrial District Master Plan is expected in mid-2023.

About the Tampa Bay Economic Prosperity Foundation

Founded in 2018, the Tampa Bay Economic Prosperity Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit affiliated organization of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. The Foundation has a two-pronged mission: to bring jobs and capital investment to the East Tampa, Central Park and Ybor City, and Uptown districts of Tampa and Hillsborough County; and to raise awareness of career training and skills development opportunities to residents of those areas. For more information, visit prospertampabay.org.

About The Mosaic Company
With the global population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, food security is an ever-growing challenge that The Mosaic Company will help meet. Our 13,000 women and men in 8 operating countries produce and deliver millions of tonnes of responsibly produced phosphate and potash fertilizers from mine to market – nutrients that are vital to feed crops which feed people everywhere – and serve farmers in 40 countries by helping them increase crop yields and improve nutrition for people and animals. We pursue our mission to help the world grow the food it needs responsibly and sustainably: We are committed to being good stewards of the environment by reducing our water use and greenhouse gas emissions, good neighbors through strong partnerships with our host communities, and by being a more diverse and inclusive company where every person feels valued and appreciated.

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