St. Pete Standard

The City of St. Petersburg has announced the availability of $2.2 million in disaster recovery assistance for residents, small businesses, and city employees affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The funding comes from a mix of state and federal sources, as well as the city's We Are St. Pete Fund.

"As we continue our long-term recovery efforts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, I am excited to announce additional disaster assistance programs for our residents, small businesses, and city employees," stated Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. "The City of St. Petersburg stands with our community as we rebuild and we look forward to leveraging city, state, and federal funds in our disaster recovery and resiliency efforts. My administration remains committed to continuing to identify all available resources to help our residents and businesses recover."

Duggan Cooley, CEO of Pinellas Community Foundation, added: “The We Are St. Pete fund is a testament to the resilience and generosity of our community. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the recovery efforts and help St. Pete come back even stronger.”

The financial aid will be distributed through several targeted programs aimed at eligible residents and business owners based on income levels and documented losses. Applications for the Housing Disaster Assistance Program are currently open, while applications for the Small Business Disaster Assistance Program will begin on Wednesday, April 2.

Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-qualified basis. Interested parties can visit www.stpete.org/recoveryfund to check eligibility criteria and submit their applications.

Additionally, the public is encouraged to support local disaster recovery initiatives by donating to the We Are St. Pete Fund via Pinellas Community Foundation's website at www.pinellascf.org/wearestpete or by texting HOPE to 38316.

For further details about the We Are St. Pete Fund and available assistance programs, visit www.stpete.org/recoveryfund.