Residents To Choose How St. Pete Spends $1M On Equity Initiative

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Residents are asked to cast their vote for their favorite projects under the city’s new Innovative Equity Project, a new initiative that launched Tuesday at the annual budget open house.

The $1 million project is “designed to foster community empowerment and participation in resource allocation” in St. Pete, according to a news release from the city.

• Cover St. Pete, a roof replacement program that will assist St. Pete homeowners burdened by aging roofs.
• Forward Together, a youth crime prevention program designed to address the foundational causes of youth involvement in crime.
• Swim Smart & Library Lockers, a partnership between Pinellas County Schools and St. Pete Parks and Recreation that will offer free swimming lessons to all elementary school-aged children in the city and the installation of outdoor remote lockers for libraries.
• Dream Big Day, a citywide day of service to coincide with the national MLK Day of Service and to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Water Assistance for St. Petersburg Homeowners, which will provide support to homeowners managing their utility bills.

Residents can learn more about these projects and cast their vote for their favorite through June 12 at stpete.org/InnovativeEquity.

• Enoch D. Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S.
• J. W. Cate Recreation Center, 5801 22nd Ave. N.
• Sunshine Senior Center, 330 5th St. N.
• Willis S. Johns Recreation Center, 6635 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N.

"St. Pete's Innovative Equity Project is a creative and participatory way to involve our constituents in the annual budget process," Mayor Kenneth T. Welch said in a statement. "We are excited to invite the community to help us prioritize the use of dollars from the general fund that will improve the quality of life for St. Pete residents."