Bradenton, private Pittsburgh university pursue partnership

The Bradenton City Council unanimously authorized city staff Wednesday to continue exploratory discussions with Point Park University about potentially developing a future presence for the campus in Bradenton. Point Park University, which has about 3,600 students, is based in Pittsburgh..

The university has several schools — communications, arts and sciences, education and business — as well as a Conservatory of Performing Arts, which includes schools of dance and theatre, film and animation.

“We are in the early stages of evaluating what a partnership in Bradenton could look like and how it may support the university’s long-term strategic vision,” Point Park University President Chris Brussalis says in a statement. “While the Conservatory of Performing Arts is a natural starting point for these conversations, the opportunity is much broader and could create new pathways for students across the university to learn, intern and build careers in a vibrant and evolving market.”

Bradenton City Council members heard at their Aug. 12 meeting from City Administrator Rob Perry, who had been engaged in early discussions with the university. 

“We are dealing with a sophisticated $100 million educational institution,” Perry said. He compared the talent produced at the university to that of Juilliard in New York and said that the mayor of Pittsburgh “raved about Point Park and what it’s done economically” for the city. Perry showed councilmembers a Point Park University brochure that said the university had an economic impact of more than $236 million; created 3,300 jobs annually; and attracted 80,000 visitors a year.

“Point Park University plays a huge role in our Downtown community and its revitalization, and this could be an opportunity for them to bring that same kind of energy to support Bradenton's urban core,” Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor says in a statement. “We hope that this could lead to even more partnership to bring students, families and businesses to both Pittsburgh and Bradenton throughout the year.”

Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown called it a “natural fit” for a university from Pittsburgh to be attracted to Bradenton, which has been the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1969.

Brown also noted the opportunities available for those seeking careers in the arts in the area, saying: “Feld [Entertainment] is right across the river.” The company employs thousands of artists and oversees productions like Disney On Ice and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.

Excitement was how several councilmembers described their reaction to the potential partnership.

“I find this all very exciting,” Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez Moore said. She mentioned the possibility of connecting students with Feld Entertainment via ferry or having hotels where parents could stay when they came to watch their children perform. In addition, Moore said she looked forward to seeing an economic study on the issue that Brown said would be released later this month and noted she wanted to “make sure that we’re cognizant of the funding” that could be required.

“It’s going to be exciting for our downtown,” Vice Mayor Jayne Kocher said. After visiting the Point Park campus in Pittsburgh in her role as vice mayor, she said, she was impressed with how the university “integrated” into the city and “restored some wonderful old buildings.” Added Kocher: “The way it just becomes part of the fabric is what I think would work so well with our downtown.”

Councilwoman Marianne Barnebey said she was “very excited” about having “something of this magnitude in our community.” She likened the university potentially coming as a “pebble” thrown into a body of water whose effects would “reverberate throughout this region.”

With a unanimous vote, the City Council gave the go-ahead for leaders, including City Administrator Rob Perry and Community Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Jeff Burton, to continue discussions with Point Park University.

“This is about the most visionary council I think Bradenton has ever had, and it’s exciting to be here at this time,” Councilwoman Pam Coachman said. She added that potentially partnering with Point Park University sounded like an “awesome opportunity” that would help Bradenton thrive while attracting young people.

Leaders from Point Park University and Bradenton note in a statement that discussions remain exploratory, with more planning expected to continue with local and regional partners. As part of the exploratory work, Manatee County and Bradenton officials will consider how existing buildings in the downtown core could be retrofitted to support a future Point Park presence. 

A “three-year phase-up” would be required to put performance space and support in place for the university to come to Bradenton, Perry told the council, noting the university’s campus includes 11 buildings and growing in downtown Pittsburgh.

“We are exploring,” Perry told the council. “That’s all we’re doing.”