Annual Report
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Letter of Support for the CRISI Grant for Tampa to Orlando Intercity Passenger Rail Project

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Dear Congressman Soto, 

On behalf of the nearly 40 regional business and non-profit leaders who compose the Tampa Bay Partnership, I request your continued support for Brightline’s CRISI grant application. The application seeks a 50% match of $15.875 million, so they can advance preliminary engineering to connect Orlando International Airport to the Tampa Bay area. This initiative will help connect 70% of Florida’s population via intercity passenger rail once the leg to Tampa is complete. 

The expansion of high-speed intercity passenger rail connecting Central Florida with the Tampa Bay region has received overwhelming support from stakeholders and aligns with President Biden’s infrastructure priorities. Currently, I-4 has reached capacity and is rated one of the deadliest highways in America. 

This project is a critical step in providing a mobility option that will help sustain the region’s economic growth and improve safety and the quality of life for residents and visitors. Ridership projections for this extension anticipate attracting about 2 million riders in the first year alone; 90% of these riders will be diverted from automobile use. This approach will vastly decrease traffic volume and greenhouse gas emissions on I-4 and increase access to jobs. 

The investors of the Tampa Bay Partnership represent approximately 80,000 jobs and have a vested interest in initiatives that improve transportation and safety in the region, such as the Intercity Passenger Rail Project. We appreciate your consideration and strongly request you support Brightline’s CRISI grant request to expand high-speed rail in Florida. 

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. 

Sincerely, 

Bemetra Simmons 

President and CEO 

Tampa Bay Partnership

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The Tampa Bay Partnership is composed of a coalition that helps unite the collective voices and influence and hone in on a unified message to address regional challenges and achieve what no individual or organization can accomplish alone.

Media Contact:
Shannon Kalahar
skalahar@tampabay.org
727.741.5440

C.J. Mintrone

Regional President and Head of Corporate Banking, West Florida, PNC Bank

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C.J. Mintrone is regional president and head of Corporate Banking for PNC Bank in West Florida, responsible for overseeing all lines of business, sponsorships, philanthropic and branding efforts important to PNC’s strategy.
 
Mintrone was named regional president in July 2026 and brings more than 20 years of industry experience, including 15 years at PNC, to this role.
As executive vice president and head of Corporate Banking for West Florida, he leads a high-performing team delivering PNC’s comprehensive banking solutions to corporations with revenues exceeding $100 million. He is the national co-leader for PNC’s Corporate Sales Development (CSD) team,, where he drives sales strategy, marketing, and growth initiatives across PNC’s Corporate Banking markets nationwide.
 
Mintrone is active in the community and serves as a board member of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, vice chair of the advisory board of Make-A-Wish Tampa Bay, and a board member of Junior Achievement Tampa Bay. He is also on the finance committee of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida. In addition, he serves on the executive advisory council for the University of South Florida Muma College of Business and on the Tampa Bay Partnership workforce board.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a specialty in finance (Cum Laude), from the University of Florida and is a graduate of Leadership Tampa (2013).