U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced Monday that she requested $963,000 in priority grant funding for the University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Risk to Resilience Research Lab. State leadership recently designated the facility as Florida’s repository for human trafficking data. The federal dollars would help aggregate and analyze data needed to inform anti-human trafficking efforts, aid law enforcement and support survivors.
The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg has partnered with Bayfront Health to award $2.9 million across two grantmaking priorities. Those include mental health and wellness initiatives for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and economic equity and justice efforts. To receive a first look at the Foundation’s request for proposals and how to apply when applications open Aug. 8, visit the website here.
Moffitt Cancer Center has opened its new $400 million McKinley Hospital, which broke ground in 2020 at the Tampa campus. The inpatient surgical hospital was built in anticipation of a 65% increase in patient volumes and a 33% increase in cancer surgeries over the next 10 years, according to Moffitt. The new 10-story, 498,000-square-foot hospital features 19 operating suites, 128 inpatient rooms, 72 perioperative rooms, an intraoperative MRI, a diagnostic CT scanner and two nuclear medicine cameras. It has 80 inpatient beds, but it can expand to accommodate up to 400 beds.
Randy Avent, Florida Polytechnic University's first president, will resign next summer, according to an announcement from the Lakeland-based university. Avent plans to rejoin Florida Poly’s faculty after taking a sabbatical.
The St. Petersburg City Council, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency Thursday evening, approved Virginia-based Kettler's plans to develop a 21-story, 310-unit apartment complex in the Edge District. The group owns the buildings at 1211 1st Ave. N., 1123 1st Ave. N. and 1101 1st Ave. N. Kettler will be preserving the buildings to the west and east ends of the property and will redevelop the site that contains a surface parking lot, the shuttered Deep Blue Fitness gym and the adjacent retail space, where First Avenue Liquor operates.
The University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s UMatter program, which launched in August 2021 with a $1.2 million gift from Andrew and Eileen Hafer, received a five-year, $2.5 million grant. The funding and coinciding designation as a Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program allows young people with intellectual disabilities to continue experiencing higher education and campus life.
Whit Blanton, executive director of Forward Pinellas, is exploring the creation of a regional Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Tampa Bay Area. The organization is now asking Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco County residents for feedback regarding their transit priorities. To take the survey, visit the link here.
Taverna On The Bay, a restaurant concept that will serve Mediterranean dishes with a modern twist, will open in the building that recently housed Caddy's. The owners teased the plans on Facebook, sharing an image of the space at 5501 Gulf Blvd. An opening date has not been announced. Caddy’s also closed its Gulfport restaurant at 3128 Beach Blvd. S.
The City of St. Petersburg has expanded its Rebates for Affordable Residential Rehabs Program, which was initially solely offered to the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). The program, which will now be accessible citywide, was created to help address supply cost increases and boost the quality of affordable housing by providing a rebate of up to 40%. Eligible homeowners in St. Pete can apply for funding to cover improvements such as structural repairs, plumbing/electrical upgrades and the construction of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). Applicants must make a minimum investment of $10,000 per residential unit on eligible building improvements through licensed contractors.
The Tampa Bay Innovation Center is accepting applications for its STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) CO.STARTERS cohort beginning on Sept. 13. The 10-week, facilitator-led program typically costs $375. However, funding from Creative Pinellas will allow artists and arts-related organizations to participate for free. For more information, visit the website here.
St. Petersburg officials announced potential vehicle and pedestrian traffic impacts this weekend due to ongoing construction on the Art House Tower at 200 Central Avenue. About 65 concrete trucks will drive in and out of downtown along 3rd Street and 1st Avenue South. While local leaders “worked with the developer to attempt to mitigate any inconvenience,” the added congestion could last from 10 p.m. Friday until 8 p.m. Saturday.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an active assailant mass casualty exercise at Seminole Middle and High Schools that will continue "into the evening." They have also closed 86th Avenue North between 131st Street and 125th Street. Multiple local agencies are participating, and the goal is to evaluate and improve preparedness.
