Positive Impact Worldwide plans expansion in South St. Pete

Positive Impact Worldwide is vying to purchase city-owned land for an expansion following the big boom of activity the organization has seen throughout the pandemic. 

Positive Impact Worldwide, a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides food and programs to children and families in St. Petersburg, submitted a proposal to acquire the property at 3201 28th Ave. South for $129,000.

“We feel this property is exactly what we need to expand our current operations of providing food and other life-transforming programs to children and families within our city,” founder and President Kara’Lynne Brubaker wrote in a letter to the city. “Last year alone we provided 475,000 meals to local families. The need for food has increased exponentially, due to Covid and the current state of our economy. Our goal is to expand our operations to include programs to educate and assist individuals in regaining the confidence and ability to become independent.” 

She noted the monetary offer to purchase the land is the most recent appraised value, and that PIW has severed the community over the past 17 years. 

Brubaker and her husband founded Positive Impact Worldwide in 2003 by operating the ministry out of their home. Three years later, the couple bought the current building, a former Chinese restaurant, and turned it into their headquarters. 

Brubaker told the St. Pete Catalyst the HQ building, located on 18th Ave. S., has a large commercial kitchen and freezers; however, it’s outdated and PIW needs a larger facility to accommodate more programming needs and food distribution. 

The plan would be to either build a completely new facility at the site or add a 20,000-square-foot expansion to the existing building. For an expansion, the group would have to provide required parking spaces, which the site can provide.

“We’re trying to help families keep their head above water. Some children we serve go days without eating a meal,” Brubaker said, noting the current 8,000-square-foot facility easily serves hundreds of families weekly. 

The programs provide food for the homeless, and families, and a newly-formed program is dedicated to providing food to foster families. The organization also operates as a ministry and offers recovery programs for those battling certain addictions. 

Due to PIW’s unsolicited proposal, the city is inviting other proposals to be brought forth from interested parties interested in undertaking the lease, purchase or development of the site. Proposals must be submitted by 10 a.m. April 20. Those interested can send their proposals via email to Dennis Weber, the city’s real estate coordinator, at dennis.weber@stpete.org. 

This isn’t the first time the nonprofit has sought out property in South St. Pete. The group previously submitted a proposal to obtain the shuttered Tangerine Plaza, formerly anchored by Walmart Neighborhood Market,  and covert the existing 40,000-square-foot building for multiple uses. 

The city is still in the process of determining the future of the plaza. 

RELATED: Community Voices: What will the City do with Tangerine Plaza?