ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – St. Petersburg’s fourโค Main Street โขDistricts are seekingโ a funding increase โขfrom the โคcity, a request the City Council agreed Thursday to discuss further in January.
The districts – The Edge, Grand Central, Deuces โLive, and Skyway โคMarina – currently each receive $55,000 annually from the city, โขa figureโฃ that hasn’t changed โคin ten years. โขNicole Waters, president of The Edge district, is requesting a $20,000 increase for each district to โฃaccount for inflation and growth.
“as inflation continues and โour districts โcontinue toโข grow and thrive, thatโค funding has stayed โstable,” Waters saeid. “We’re readyโค for that to be matched โwith theโ type of growth that we’re seeingโค in our districts.”
Waters explained that increased funding is crucial โfor continuing popular programs โขand โexpandingโ inclusivity. โขShe cited โขHalloween on โคCentral as an โคexample, noting the recent addition of a โsection โspecifically for neurodivergentโ children. “Each year, that event has continued to grow.โค We can’t continue toโค growโ and beโ more inclusive and createโ experiences for โขallโ of our communityโข members when ourโข resources are limited,” sheโ said.
Council Member Coreyโฃ Givens motioned toโข send the funding request toโค the Economic and Workforce โขprogress Committee for discussion in January. The motion passed unanimously, โฃwith Givens assuring colleagues he would collaborate with the governance to identify potential funding sources.
Council member Gina Driscoll expressed support for the proposed โincrease, stating, “We’ll look forward to having a committee discussion inโค January for โฃthisโฆFigure out where weโ can find โขtheโค money to make sure that we’re โฃsupporting our small businesses here in โSt. โPete.” Driscoll โadded that $20,000 per district wouldโ be “a great starting number.”
Waters acknowledged theโฃ city’s budgetary constraints but emphasized the needโ for increased support.”They want to make sure โคthat they’re responsible withโฃ the budget, andโฃ I can appreciate that,” she said. โข”But it’s time for an increase.”
