THE EDC IS ORGANIZED TO ACHIEVE ADVANCEMENT AND SUPPORT THE RECRUITMENT, FORMATION, EXPANSION AND RETENTION OF QUALITY JOBS AND COMPETITIVE BUSINESSES THAT WILL FOSTER AND MAINTAIN A DIVERSIFIED, YEAR-ROUND AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY PRIMARILY FOR ST. PETERSBURG AND SURROUNDING CITIES AND COMMUNITIES WITHIN PINELLAS COUNTY.ADDITIONALLY, THE EDC SHALL PROMOTE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BY: 1) IMPLEMENTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE INCOME POTENTIAL OF ALL EXISTING AND NEW BUSINESSES WITHIN THE TRADE AREA; 2) PROMOTING QUALITY-OF-LIFE PROGRAMS OF A CIVIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL NATURE WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE FUNCTIONAL AND AESTHETIC VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY AND; 3) DISCOVERING AND CORRECTING ISSUES WHICH PREVENT THE PROMOTION OF BUSINESS EXPANSION AND COMMUNITY GROWTH.