ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – St. Petersburg’s four Main Street Districts are seeking a funding increase from the city, a request the City Council agreed Thursday to discuss further in January.
The districts – The Edge, Grand Central, Deuces Live, and Skyway Marina – currently each receive $55,000 annually from the city, a figure that hasn’t changed in ten years. Nicole Waters, president of The Edge district, is requesting a $20,000 increase for each district to account for inflation and growth.
“as inflation continues and our districts continue to grow and thrive, that funding has stayed stable,” Waters saeid. “We’re ready for that to be matched with the type of growth that we’re seeing in our districts.”
Waters explained that increased funding is crucial for continuing popular programs and expanding inclusivity. She cited Halloween on Central as an example, noting the recent addition of a section specifically for neurodivergent children. “Each year, that event has continued to grow. We can’t continue to grow and be more inclusive and create experiences for all of our community members when our resources are limited,” she said.
Council Member Corey Givens motioned to send the funding request to the Economic and Workforce progress Committee for discussion in January. The motion passed unanimously, with Givens assuring colleagues he would collaborate with the governance to identify potential funding sources.
Council member Gina Driscoll expressed support for the proposed increase, stating, “We’ll look forward to having a committee discussion in January for this…Figure out where we can find the money to make sure that we’re supporting our small businesses here in St. Pete.” Driscoll added that $20,000 per district would be “a great starting number.”
Waters acknowledged the city’s budgetary constraints but emphasized the need for increased support.”They want to make sure that they’re responsible with the budget, and I can appreciate that,” she said. ”But it’s time for an increase.”
