The City of St. Pete has introduced Sunrise St. Pete, a new initiative to guide the use of $159.8 million awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funds, part of the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, will support the city’s long-term recovery from Hurricane Idalia (August 2023) and Hurricane Helene (September 2024).

On January 7, HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman revealed a nationwide allocation of nearly $12 billion in CDBG-DR funds, benefiting communities across 24 states and territories. St. Petersburg stood out as the only Tampa Bay city to receive direct funding, while Pinellas County was awarded $813,783,000 and the State of Florida received $925,394,000.

“Over the past two years, countless communities have faced destructive disasters, damaging homes, infrastructure, and local recovery resources,” Todman stated during the announcement. “These funds will have a lasting impact, particularly for survivors and the hardest-hit areas.”

Sunrise St. Pete will emphasize community involvement, giving residents a key role in shaping recovery efforts. Potential projects include housing repairs, infrastructure upgrades, economic revitalization, and affordable housing development, with 70% of the funds required to support low- to moderate-income households.

The city is encouraging residents to join a community meeting on March 26, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. during Mayor Welch’s City Hall On Tour event at the Coliseum (535 4th Avenue North). The timeline for fund distribution is outlined below:

• March – May 2025: Public feedback and data collection will shape the Action Plan.
• March 26, 2025: Residents can offer input at City Hall On Tour at the Coliseum, 5:30 p.m.
• May – June 2025: A draft Action Plan will be shared for public comment at a formal hearing and online via the city’s website.
• July 2025: The Action Plan will be submitted to HUD.
• July – August 2025: HUD will review and approve the plan within 45 days.
• Q3 2025: A grant agreement will be finalized.
• Within About 2 Years: Funds will be disbursed to St. Pete.

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(Image credit: Florida Division of Emergency Management)

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