The City of Tampa’s is making it their mission to become more inclusive of the Spanish-speaking population in Tampa Bay. The City has launched a new website, Tampa en Español, to help residents and newcomers find important information about their city government and businesses.
Tampa is home to an ever-growing Spanish-speaking population in South and Central Florida. As part of an active effort to become more inclusive of Spanish-speakers, the City of Tampa has launched Tampa en Español, a fully Spanish version of the city website, to help new residents find information about services about their city. This is only a first step in keeping residents informed about what is happening in the city. It also helps involve more of the Spanish-speaking population in local government, commerce, and community events.
Related: The worlds’ top 10 most spoken languages
In the past decade alone, the Hispanic or Latino population grew by 23% throughout the U.S. However, in the Central Florida area, the averages are much higher. The area’s Hispanic population growth is:
- 44.2% in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
- 46.5% in North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton
- 76.2% in Lakeland-Winter Haven
It’s important for the City to involve the community in government affairs and to ensure this population has equal access to information, services, and other city opportunities.
Tampa en Español
The website was first proposed by the Community Engagement and Partnerships Department. The department serves as the mayor’s chief liaison to neighborhood groups and community organizations. The department also ensures these groups have a voice at City Hall. This department also strategically partners with an array of corporate and non-profit entities to leverage opportunities aimed at enhancing the quality of life for all community stakeholders.