St. Petersburg, FL — Ark Investment Management LLC (“ARK” or “ARK Invest”), an investment adviser focused solely on investing in disruptive innovation, announced today the relocation of its corporate headquarters to St. Petersburg, effective Nov. 1, 2021. In addition, the company announced that groundbreaking for the ARK Innovation Center will take place during the first quarter of 2022. This state-of-the-art facility will support entrepreneurs and tech startups in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay region.
“We are thrilled to relocate our corporate headquarters to St. Petersburg, Florida, as we believe the Tampa Bay region’s talent, innovative spirit, and quality of life will accelerate our growth initiatives,” stated Cathie Wood, ARK’s founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer. “ARK is not a traditional Wall Street asset management firm, and we are looking forward to breaking the mold further by relocating to St. Petersburg, a city investing in technology, science, and innovation.”
ARK’s new corporate headquarters will be in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg at 200 Central. The space will enable ARK to scale while its team enjoys a better work-life balance. While a substantial number of employees have chosen to relocate and work in the office, ARK’s hybrid back-to-work model will harness technology to accommodate working remotely. With this model, ARK hopes to maximize its productivity and attract top talent from around the world.
In tandem with the relocation, ARK is collaborating with the Tampa Bay Innovation Center on a new incubator that Pinellas County will build and own. The incubator, designated as ARK Innovation Center, is scheduled to open in July 2023 and will be located on 2.5 acres donated by the City of St. Petersburg at 4th Street and 11th Avenue South in the Innovation District. By 2026, the 45,000-square-foot building is expected to impact the county by $28 million, thanks to the 1,265 direct and indirect jobs expected. Moreover, its clients and graduates are expected to generate $127 million in annual revenue.
“This is a game changer for the innovation economy in Pinellas County,” said Dave Eggers, Chairman of the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners. “I want to welcome and thank Cathie Wood and the ARK Investment Management team for choosing Pinellas. This significant investment in our community will accelerate our region’s rise as the epicenter of technology, science and manufacturing innovation.
“We’ve worked closely with our state and regional partners to help ARK choose the City of St. Petersburg for their investment,” stated Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Director of Pinellas County Economic Development. “We’re honored to continue our work and excited to collaborate with Cathie and her team to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in Pinellas. We want to thank ARK for its commitment to equitable development and job creation.”
ARK’s new address will be 200 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, Florida, 33707.
Pinellas County Economic Development works with existing businesses to encourage expansion and seeks to attract new companies with high-wage careers to our community. Through investment tools, business classes, professional consulting services, trade missions to open new markets, and strategic partnerships, PCED fosters a pro-business environment and promotes the ideal business climate of Pinellas County, Florida.
Media Contact:
Dr. Cynthia Johnson
Pinellas County Economic Development
cyjohnson@pinellascounty.org
727-464-7332
