Change starts from within. Every day, city departments create policies, make important programming decisions, and develop plans and projects that impact residents’ physical, social, and economic environment.
Health equity means that all residents, no matter their neighborhood, gender, race, ethnicity, income, age, or ability, have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. To achieve this, we must look at broader social and environmental obstacles and their consequences that influence access to resources and opportunities where people are born, live, learn, work, play, and age.
The City of St. Petersburg is focused on intentionally incorporating health and equity considerations into the City’s decision-making by applying a Health in All Policies (HiAP) framework to develop and implement impactful programs, policies, plans, and projects.
PROGRESS TO DATE
While there is still work to be done, all City departments, in collaboration with the community, continue to work towards inclusive progress that promotes access to resources and opportunities for all residents, equitable development, and neighborhood health and safety. Below are a few highlights of the City’s progress.
Programs
There are several affordable housing programs for homebuyers, homeowners, renters, and developers within the City that support equitable access to housing opportunities.
The Cohort of Champions (COC) training program involves educational, entrepreneurial, workforce, and enrichment training opportunities for 100 young men and women, ages 12 to 24. The COC training initiative is the next step to prepare African American young men and women for the future as well as to develop a trained, qualified, and ready workforce.
In 2021, City Council approved the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) program as a major step toward more equitable economic growth. It creates a process that takes into account the social and community impact of major development plans.
E-scooter companies offer discount programs to promote affordable transportation for all.
Please see the Healthy St. Pete food access page for more information.
The Greenhouse provides several business assistance, navigation, and incentive programs and services that promote equitable access to economic opportunities.
My Brother’s Keeper is focused on five milestones: getting a healthy start and entering school ready to learn, graduating from high school ready for college and career, completing post-secondary education or training, successfully entering the workforce, and keeping kids on track and giving them second chances.
My Sister’s Keeper Fellowship is a leadership program designed to meet the unique cultural needs of Black women looking to grow and achieve their business and personal goals. It is a dynamic, intensive and interactive, six-month experience designed to promote and encourage community leadership through an in-depth enhancement of existing skills in effective communication, entrepreneurship, financial empowerment, business and education, and personal wellness and advocacy.
The City’s Small Business Enterprise program provides a fair, equitable shot at doing business with the City. The SBE program fosters economic growth and provides opportunities for smaller businesses to participate in City construction projects and the procurement of goods and services.
Social service agencies that provide homeless services and/or homeless prevention services can apply to take advantage of up to $50,000 in Social Action Funding grants from the City of St. Petersburg.
There are several grant programs available for the Community Redevelopment Areas’ residents, businesses, and organizations that promote equitable development and improved neighborhood health.
In 2021, City Council approved amendments to the grant evaluation system for commercial grants, including awarding scoring points for organizations that promote health in various ways.
The Therapeutic Recreation Division of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department promotes equity through their mission to provide inclusive, intergenerational recreation, leisure and play opportunities for individuals in the community with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
The City’s Youth Development Grants program promotes equitable access for funding opportunities to local nonprofit organizations that provide services to at-risk St. Pete youth.
The City of St. Petersburg partners with local organizations to provide internships and employment opportunities to young St. Pete residents.
POLICIES
Forward Pinellas- Multimodal Project Prioritization Process
The Pinellas County Health in All Policies Collaborative submitted recommendations to a Forward Pinellas committee to incorporate multimodal transportation ideas into their project prioritization process for receiving funding.
Health in All Policies City Council Resolution
In 2018, City Council passed a resolution to apply a Health in All Policies approach to the City’s decision-making, including policy development and implementation, budgeting, and service delivery.
St. Pete Food Policy Council
Healthy St. Pete staff sit on the St. Pete Food Policy Council and are actively collaborating with the members and other organizations to increase food access. See the Healthy St. Pete food systems page for more information.
Plans & Studies
The City of St. Petersburg is a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. The City’s Age-Friendly Action Plan supports the City’s vision for an inclusive community that promotes active aging in which people of all ages and abilities can thrive with dignity and independence.
Complete Streets are planned, designed, operated, and maintained to create streets that are safe and convenient for ALL users of the roadway, including people who are walking, riding bicycles, motorists, people with disabilities, users and operators of public transit, seniors, children, and movers of commercial goods. The goals and objectives of the plan incorporate equity.
The Minority and Women Business Enterprises Disparity Study is an evaluation of the contracting practices of the City of St. Petersburg, particularly the award of contracts to minority and woman businesses. The City conducted the study to ensure that the M/WBE program is narrowly tailored and in compliance with applicable federal regulations and relevant court rulings.
In collaboration with the City’s Transportation & Parking and Economic and Workforce Development Departments, Healthy St. Pete completed a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) on proposed complete streets modifications to 18th Avenue South. The HIA assesses the potential health impacts related to active transportation and physical activity in addition to the economic determinants of health, including evaluating the downstream health impacts of how Complete Streets could impact existing business, future development, and employment opportunities. The HIA report includes a list of recommendations intended to enhance the equitable health and economic benefits of Complete Streets on 18th Avenue South through a comprehensive and multisectoral approach.
The City of St. Petersburg has developed a comprehensive 10-year plan to address housing affordability by expanding existing programs and introducing new solutions. The plan began in 2020 and will be funded through various public and private sources, impacting approximately 7,000 households and improving life for 19,000 community members across the city.
The City’s Integrated Sustainability Action Plan contains ambitious climate action goals, including a transition to 100% Clean Energy, environmental stewardship, resiliency, and racial justice, while growing smart to sustain a thriving economy and quality of life for the residents of St. Pete.
St. Pete 2050 Plan
STPETE2050 will help inform future decisions and guide plans, programs, and services throughout the city and in support of its sustainable, resilient, and equitable growth over the next 30 years.
The City of St. Petersburg commissioned a study team led by the University of South Florida, in partnership with several community members, to examine both the historical and modern-day impact that structural racism has had on the lives of Black people in the City of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Projects
American Rescue Plan Act-
Health & Social Equity Category
Healthy St. Pete, along with several other City departments, has collaborated on developing program and project proposals that promote health and social equity.
Capacity- Building Resources
Healthy St. Pete maintains training materials, presentations, and a resource library of curated evidence-based guidance and best practice examples for various policy areas. This includes topics such as food systems planning, healthy building design, long-range planning, and more.
City-owned Properties RFP Language & Review Committees
The City often incorporates Health in All Policies principles in both the language of RFPs and in the Strength & Weaknesses reviews of responses to RFPs.
Park Asset Mapping Project
Healthy St. Pete took a lead role in developing the Parks & Recreation Departments new Park Asset Map in ArcGIS. The internal map will be used by the department to improve parks and facilities planning, maintenance efficiency, disaster response, and customer service.
Park Trail Signage
The Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of adding new signage along park trails informing trail-users of distances and park amenities.
The Tropicana Site Redevelopment includes 21 guiding principles of development which were created by public feedback. One of these guiding principles states “The development will honor the site’s history and provide opportunities for economic equity and inclusion.” Several other principles also promote access to opportunities which improve the social determinants of health.