The Pinellas County Cultural Affairs Department was eliminated in October 2010. In response, community leaders formed a task force to develop a sustainable model for Pinellas' Local Arts Agency (LAA). The task force defined the new organization as Creative Pinellas, a 501(c)4 with a board of directors and mission to connect and fuel creative impulses in Pinellas County. The task force also developed strategic initiatives, staffing plans, and funding requests to transition the LAA designation and seed funding from the county to Creative Pinellas.