Tampa Bay Caregivers To Propose Healthcare Heroes Grant Program At Community Workshop July 28 City Officials, Residents To Discuss Priorities For $45 Million In Biden Administration Rescue Funds

SAINT PETERSBURG—-Caregivers with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East will announce their proposal for a new Healthcare Hero Grant Program at a community workshop July 28 created to discuss priorities for the $45 million in funding Saint Petersburg officials expect to receive from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act.

The workshop is part of a series sponsored by City of Saint Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman to gather community feedback and prioritize funding for residents’ needs in the areas of infrastructure, housing affordability and support, health and social equity, economic recovery/resilience, and public health/safety.

For more than a year, thousands of frontline healthcare heroes have risked their lives to protect Florida families during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has taken the lives of almost 40,000 in the state. During this historic crisis, healthcare heroes have faced unprecedented challenges including inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE); unsafe staffing shortages, with emergency rooms and COVID units at maximum capacity; lack of sick time or paid time off for COVID-19 testing, quarantine and vaccination; lack of hazard pay.
The nurses, nursing home workers and other healthcare workers of 1199SEIU in Tampa Bay are calling on local leaders to invest a portion of the Biden Administration’s ARP funding to support the Healthcare Hero Pandemic Pay Grant, the Healthcare Hero Medical and Mental Health Grant, and the Healthcare Hero Eviction and Rental Assistance Grant. These three $1,000 grants are an essential investment to retain and reward experienced healthcare heroes who have cared for our state during the COVID-19 crisis, and to stabilize our overall healthcare system for the future.

Who: Tampa Bay frontline caregivers with 1199SEIU
City officials and residents

What: Community workshop on priorities for $45 million in federal funds

Where: Willis S. Johns Rec Center (6635 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N.)
When: 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 28
Contact: Media representatives please RSVP to egilhuly@leftcom.com
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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest healthcare union in the country representing more than 450,000 nurses and healthcare workers nationwide, including more than 24,000 in Florida. Our nurses, certified nursing assistants and other healthcare workers care for Florida families in hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities throughout the state.