Fresh fruits and veggies could soon be rolling deeper into St. Petersburg’s grocery deserts. The city has opened applications for its new PeliCAN (Community Access to Nutrition) grant program, which helps residents launch mobile fresh-food markets in neighborhoods with limited access to healthy, affordable groceries. Selected applicants will receive starting capital, a stipend, technical training and mentorship to build a “Fresh Start” mobile market that can accept SNAP and bring produce into USDA-identified priority areas. The program is open to St. Petersburg residents and runs through May 31, 2026.
What PeliCAN Provides
City officials say PeliCAN will provide starting capital, a stipend, technical training and mentorship to selected community members to build a mobile healthy-food retail operation, a model they are calling the “Fresh Start” mobile market, according to St. Petersburg's post on X. The city notes that the grant application includes a brief, anonymous community survey that collects no personal information, aimed at better understanding neighborhood needs. Healthy St. Pete, the Parks & Recreation division that runs the city’s food-access programs, will administer the grants and supportive services, including connections to local commissary and storage partners, according to the program page.
How To Apply
Applications are open now and must be submitted through the city's online portal at OpenGov. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2026. Eligible applicants must be St. Petersburg residents, and the city is asking all applicants to complete the brief community survey included in the application package.
Partners And Local Support
According to city officials, the PeliCAN program is funded in partnership with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. Local programmatic partners, including Florida Central Credit Union and the St. Pete Greenhouse, are expected to provide operational support such as cold storage access and vendor trailer parking. The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg has prioritized place-based investments to address health inequities in St. Pete neighborhoods, and Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital remains a central hospital partner in downtown health initiatives.
Why It Matters
USDA-identified low-income, low-access areas, often called healthy food priority areas in local conversations, tend to have fewer supermarkets and limited affordable produce options. Federal food-access research indicates that mapping and targeted interventions are key tools for reaching those neighborhoods. PeliCAN is designed to blend small-business support with food-access strategy so local entrepreneurs can operate SNAP-friendly mobile markets that respond to neighborhood demand, per USDA data and local program partners.
Next Steps And Timeline
City staff say they will review applications after the May 31 deadline and work with selected teams on training, commissary access and mentorship to get Fresh Start markets operating in priority corridors. For full application details and to apply, residents can visit the city's OpenGov portal, and the Healthy St. Pete program page provides additional contacts and FAQs.
