St. Pete Standard

The City of St. Petersburg has announced the launch of Sunrise St. Pete, a new initiative aimed at disaster recovery and funded by $159.8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program. The funds are designated for long-term recovery efforts in response to Hurricanes Idalia and Helene.

Sunrise St. Pete is designed as a community-driven effort, allowing residents to participate in planning projects that support affordable housing, economic revitalization, infrastructure improvements, and community development. The initiative aligns with the city's vision for resilience and equity.

Mayor Welch will host an in-person event during his City Hall On Tour on March 26, 2025, at the Coliseum where residents can learn about the funds and provide input. Additional public input opportunities will be announced later.

The timeline for Sunrise St. Pete includes action plan development from March to May 2025, followed by a public comment period from May to June 2025. The action plan will then be submitted to HUD in July 2025 for review over approximately 45 days, with grant agreement finalization expected in Q3 2025.

The city's action plan must comply with HUD requirements such as conducting an unmet needs assessment and ensuring that 70% of funds benefit low- to moderate-income households. Allocations include $139 million for unmet needs and $20 million set aside for mitigation projects.

For more information on Sunrise St. Pete or updates on this initiative, visit www.sunrisestpete.org.

City Hall On Tour is an ongoing effort by Mayor Welch to engage residents directly in discussions about the city’s future, with the March meeting focusing on gathering feedback for Sunrise St. Pete.