St. Pete Catalyst launches Impact section, Jobs Catalyst update, SVP Tampa Bay CARES

The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce presents: Coronavirus Impact Insights

On this episode of Chamber Coronavirus Impact Insights, Chris Steinocher, CEO of the St. Petersburg Chamber and Joe Hamilton, publisher of St. Pete Catalyst talk about the multi-front effort that the St. Petersburg Group has built to help local workers and nonprofits impacted by coronavirus.

To start, Steinocher asks business owners and residents to review Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order, issued Wednesday. Under the order, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. April 3, individuals are asked only to leave the home for essential services or activities for the next 30 days. DeSantis said the order is targeted to individual residents, and is not mandating non-essential businesses to shut down entirely, though they will likely close to the public.

The order outlines what are considered essential businesses and services based on guidance from the Department of Homeland Security. DeSantis said he would also include some services like veterinary care, pet food supply stores and others that were included in Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Giménez’s order earlier this week.

Steinocher reminds readers that essential businesses and activities can continue, but it is now law that you cannot hang out with your friends in the park, cannot go to your friends’ or family’s houses. “Take a walk or run through the park,” Steinocher says. “Do not stay or camp out there.”

Hamilton talks about the purpose of the St. Pete Catalyst and announces the new Impact section, while running through the many features and sharing the programs and opportunities enumerated there. He also provides an update on the ways that St. Petersburg Group, which owns the St. Pete Catalyst, is involved in helping nonprofits and workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He provides an update on the Jobs Catalyst program launched through the St. Petersburg Foundation. Jobs Catalyst connects workers impacted by Covid-19 with paying opportunities to support vital nonprofit operations. The jobs provide wages between $12-$15 per hour, paid for through the St. Petersburg Foundation Covid-19 Crisis Response Fund, addressing both the needs of people out of work, and the needs of nonprofits who are seeing an increased load on their services and a downturn in their volunteer and staff pool.

The St. Petersburg Foundation is seeking donors for the Crisis Response Fund, and is already seeing major impact. Alongside restaurateur Steve Westphal, Jobs Catalyst is providing more than 2,000 meals to the Jordan Park neighborhood this week.

Hamilton also encourages nonprofits and job seekers to take a look at the Jobs Catalyst board and post any job opportunities that nonprofits have there. He also advises nonprofits to think long term during this time – whether pivoting online, changing marketing approach or revamping old designs – as well as what skillsets are needed to assist with those pivots.

Finally, Hamilton shares more information on SVP Tampa Bay CARES.

Resources:

Donate to the St. Petersburg Crisis Response Fund here: https://stpete.foundation/donate/

Nonprofits with increased needs during the Covid-19 pandemic share their needs here: https://stpete.foundation/questionnaire/

Impacted workers can view the Jobs Board here: https://stpete.foundation/jobs/

And apply* for jobs here: https://stpete.foundation/apply/

*Workers need only apply once to the job they want most; the St. Petersburg Foundation will work on fitting applicants with other jobs if their first choice is filled.

Disclaimer: Joe Hamilton is a co-founder and Partner of The St. Petersburg Group, which owns a stake in the St. Pete Catalyst.