Downtown Clearwater Becomes Investment for Three Bay Area Companies

Right in line with the Clearwater Downtown Partnership’s purpose for putting “feet on Cleveland Street” through their popular 4^th Friday Clearwater events, three long-standing Tampa Bay companies recently merged and established their new headquarters in downtown Clearwater in the heart of the district: Baldwin Connelly, Carlisle Fields & Company and Nichols Insurance.  The Baldwin Connelly Family of Companies has capabilities to address the insurance and risk management needs of nearly every individual and business in Florida.  According to them the decision to move downtown was simple; the area was expanding and it seemed like a great time to get in on the ground floor and ride the wave.

The Clearwater Downtown Partnership’s 4^th Friday Clearwater events have been very successful with an average of 1500-plus people in attendance at each one.  The group started the events to bring interest and more business to downtown Clearwater.  The arrival of the Baldwin Connelly Family of Companies, as well as several new restaurants to the area, is a welcomed reality to that vision.

When looking for a central location for their 60-plus staff, John Connelly, Founding Partner of Baldwin Connelly, said that downtown Clearwater was very appealing.  The recent streetscape contributed a higher level of aesthetics to the area while the advent of new restaurants popping up showed promise of expansion.

“Our employees love it here,” said Pat Carlisle, a principal of Carlisle Fields & Company. “They like having places to walk to, get coffee and have lunch… and they especially like the view of the water right outside their office windows.”

The Baldwin Connelly Family of Companies are now located in the Bank of America building at 600 Cleveland Street.  They are also new members of the Clearwater Downtown Partnership and are committed to helping shape downtown Clearwater’s renaissance. 

The 4^th Friday Clearwater Schedule of Events for the rest of 2009 is:

September 25^th: the party will be a special kick-off for the 30^th Anniversary of Clearwater Jazz Holiday;

October 22^nd: the theme is centered around Halloween;

November 27^th: the theme will be Bringing Back Elvis;

December 4^th will be the second annual Miracle on Cleveland Street with 20 tons of snow!

For more information visit http://www.4thfridayclearwater.com/

About the CDP:

The Clearwater Downtown Partnership (CDP) is comprised of downtown property owners, developers, concerned citizens and civic groups and is a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote and foster the economic redevelopment of Downtown Clearwater. The Partnership's aim is to name, fund and implement projects that will assist the public and private sectors in averting blight and creating a downtown district that becomes a regional destination. The CDP brings stakeholders together to develop, advocate and implement policies that build an exciting, vibrant and diverse downtown and plays an essential role in keeping the business community educated, informed and involved in the continued success of downtown. Find more information at http://www.clwdp.org/

About the Baldwin Connelly Family of Companies:

• Baldwin Connelly takes a 360 degree view of risks by sharing a collaborative, consultative, and proactive approach to address all areas of insurance and risk management including Commercial and Employee Benefits for mid-size to large companies as well as individual insurance for the affluent.
• Carlisle Fields has expertise in all areas of insurance including Commercial, Employee Benefits, and Personal Insurance. In particular, they specialize in the placement and management of Commercial Insurance Programs for the hospitality industry, churches, and resident-owned communities. 
• Nichols Insurance specializes in the placement and management of insurance programs for individuals’ health as well as group insurance programs for small to mid-size businesses and Professional Employer Organizations.

The combination of all three organizations uniquely positions us to provide their clients with expert solutions no matter their goals, needs, and lifestyle.  Visit http://www.baldwinconnelly.com/