St. Petersburg city officials have outlined a plan to use a $159.8 million federal grant for recovery and resilience efforts following Hurricanes Idalia and Helene. The funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is intended for long-term recovery and to strengthen infrastructure against future natural disasters. “I’m excited it’s a large amount of money; it shows our federal partnerships are working,” Mayor Ken Welch said, as reported by FOX 13 News.
The city’s strategy includes $105 million allocated to housing, with a focus on residential recovery, home elevation, and expanding affordable rental housing. These efforts are based on an estimated $1.5 billion in storm-related damages, according to a 140-page report cited by Here's St. Petersburg. Other portions of the funding will support public infrastructure and essential services.
Community input is a key part of the planning process. City leaders are inviting feedback from residents through public hearings and a 30-day comment period. This outreach aims to ensure that the funding plan reflects the needs of those affected by the storms.
The city’s initiative, titled “Sunrise St. Pete,” is focused on both rebuilding and preparing for future storm events. Blanca Garcia said in an interview with WFLA, "It looked apocalyptic, and I can drive around and maybe it looks like a normal neighborhood, but the reality is a lot of these homes are empty."
Public hearings are scheduled for early June, both in-person and online, to allow for broad participation. After the community engagement period, the city plans to submit its final proposal to HUD in July.
