Hillsborough County Hosts 'Love Our Neighborhoods' Expo

This year's expo is the 21st iteration of the civic event, designed to give residents direct access to staff from more than 40 county departments. Key exhibitors include Code Enforcement, Water Resources, and Conservation & Environmental Lands Management, all of which provide resources relevant to home renovation and property development. The event comes as the Tampa Bay housing market is experiencing a "normalization" in early 2026. After years of volatility, the market has seen rising inventory and stabilizing prices, with the median single-family home price hovering around $400,000. This shift creates opportunities for strategic renovations as sellers compete for buyer attention. Hillsborough County's sustainability initiatives will be a key focus, aligning with growing client demand for green design. The county's Resource Recovery Facility converts approximately 562,000 tons of garbage into energy annually, enough to power 26,000 homes. Other programs promote Florida-friendly landscaping and water conservation, offering designers locally-vetted options for sustainable projects. Understanding hyper-local development trends is crucial, and the expo offers insight into specific community plans for areas like Brandon, Riverview, and Greater Sun City Center. These frameworks, overseen by Plan Hillsborough, often signal future residential growth and potential pockets of new clientele. Direct financial resources for homeowners are also on the table, with information available on programs like Neighborhood Mini-Grants and the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program. These grants can provide funding for home improvement projects, directly translating into business opportunities for residential designers. The expo is hosted by the county's Neighborhood Relations team at the Feeding Tampa Bay facility on Causeway Blvd. The format is designed for direct interaction, allowing attendees to ask questions and build relationships with county staff face-to-face.