Biographies
Alison Barlow
Alison Barlow
Executive Director
St. Petersburg Innovation District
Alison Barlow is the Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Innovation District. The District is a public-private partnership formed in 2016 and located in the area south of downtown. The mission of the District is to develop St. Petersburg into an environment that fosters job growth, economic development, and learning and inspiration by bringing innovative people and organizations together.
Alison works with District partners to forge new career opportunities, grow businesses and entrepreneurs, and increase investment particularly in the fields of healthcare, marine science, data analytics and education.
Alison also leads several of St. Petersburg’s smart city efforts. These include pilot projects in smart lighting, smart intersection, STEM education, and digital inclusion. These projects, like many in the Innovation District, seek to address community-based challenges with solutions that can be applied globally.
Alison is from St. Petersburg and graduated from Boca Ciega High School. She received a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Administration from Florida State University, and a Master of Business Administration from American University in Washington D.C.
For most of her career was as a technology and business consultant based in Washington D.C. Upon her return to Florida and prior to joining the Innovation District, Alison was the operations manager and lead facilitator of Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College.
Alison is on the boards of the Leadership St. Pete Alumni Association, St. Pete Chamber of Commerce, and Friends of Strays Animal Shelter.