City okays $6 million workforce plan with SPC

ST. PETERSBURG — St. Petersburg City Council has approved a resolution for a three-year, $6 million workforce development program administered by St. Petersburg College. Through this partnership, the city and St. Petersburg College are launching the St. Pete Works: Employment & Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) Initiative.

The program is designed to support workforce readiness and development in the South St. Pete Community Redevelopment Area and will focus on linking CRA residents with employment in the city’s targeted industries, as well as providing training in technical and construction trades.

The program is expected to launch early this year.

“Developing and maintaining a qualified and robust workforce is a top priority for my administration, and I thank City Council for supporting a program that will benefit hundreds of St. Pete residents,” said Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. “This program was intentionally designed to connect participants with the right resources, education, and support so they can fully focus on further developing their skills and completing their training. When we invest in our workforce, the whole community thrives.”

“Workforce readiness looks different for everyone,” said Dr. Tonjua Williams, president of St. Petersburg College. “For some, it’s a degree; for others, it’s short-term training, a certificate or skill development that leads directly to employment. This partnership reflects St. Petersburg College’s commitment to meeting people where they are and supporting them in every aspect of their journey toward meaningful careers. Workforce readiness today requires more than job training alone.”

In awarding the program to SPC, the council found that the college’s proposal demonstrated extensive collaborative relationships that will support the overall success of the program and its participants. To support program participants, St. Petersburg College will also offer wrap-around services including transportation assistance, technology access, mental health support, and more.

Feb. 12 deadline nears for applications for food grant program

ST. PETERSBURG — The city of St. Petersburg is accepting applications for Healthy St. Pete’s Community Food Grant Program until Feb. 12 at 4 p.m.

Apply at https://tinyurl.com/3v7bddym

The city will award up to $100,000 in two tiers: one $50,000 award and two $25,000 awards. Projects submitted must align with one or more of the following areas of focus: Support Local Food Economy & Community Building, Improve Food Access & Security, and Strengthen Community Health & Wellness. Projects are strongly encouraged to relate to one or more community-generated suggested strategies.

This competitive grant program was created to further the goals and objectives of the Healthy Food Action Plan, a community-centered plan to improve health equity through food access, informed by direct input from residents in St. Pete.

Pinellas Park student named to Valdosta Dean’s List

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Emma Lance of Pinellas Park has been named to the fall 2025 Dean’s List at Valdosta State University.

To qualify for Dean’s List at VSU, students must achieve a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher on nine or more semester hours with an institutional grade point average of 3.00 or higher.

Local canine to star in Puppy Bowl

ST. PETERSBURG — Two local puppies will make their national television debut next month when they take the field for Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XXII. One of those puppies needing adoption is Baxter. He was rescued by the Tampa Bay area animal rescue group Compassion Kind.

Baxter is a 7-month-old puppy with a sweet heart and a playful, happy-go-lucky personality. Weighing about 40 pounds, he’s full of charm and endless affection. He loves to play, enjoys his treats, and while he can be a little shy at first, he’s quickly picking up leash manners and basic commands — he’s a smart boy. He’s great with dogs, cats, and kids, making him a wonderful match for many different families.

Baxter was found as a stray in Puerto Rico with three siblings. Despite his tough start, he’s blossomed into a joyful, fun-loving pup who’s ready to bring that happiness to a forever home.

One of Baxter’s standout features is his beautiful blue eye, which perfectly matches his gentle, sweet nature. He especially loves to play and would be thrilled to have another doggy friend in his new home. Playful, affectionate, and eager for love, Baxter is ready to find a family who will cherish him forever.

Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl is a platform to raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption, by having rescue puppies play and run on a mini-gridiron.

Every player in the Puppy Bowl comes from a shelter or rescue. Many find their forever homes as a result of the event.

You can meet Baxter at the Dog Bar in St. Petersburg for a Puppy Bowl Watch Party on game day from 1-5 p.m.

DEP names St. Petersburg as ‘Trail Town’

The St. Petersburg Greater Arts District was recently designated as a Trail Town by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) Office of Greenways and Trails. St. Petersburg is the most recent city to receive this designation from FDEP and joins 22 other cities that are recognized as a Trail Town.

“This designation is a testament to what we’ve known all along — St. Pete is a vibrant community where residents and visitors can enjoy our thoughtfully-designed trails, active transportation, arts and culture community, and local businesses,” said Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. “I’m proud of the work our city team and our community partners did to secure this designation and for their ongoing efforts in making St. Pete one of the best places to live and visit.”

The Trail Town program through FDEP was established in 2018 to recognize communities with significant trail investments. A Trail Town is a community located along or in proximity to one or more long-distance non-motorized recreational trails and is a “vibrant destination where people come together.” Trail Towns are not stand-alone communities; they are linked by a long-distance trail corridor.

St. Petersburg was selected as a Trail Town because of the proximity to the Pinellas Trail which connects four arts districts in St. Pete: Warehouse Arts District, EDGE District, Central Arts District, and Waterfront Arts District. These districts promote art and cultural experiences throughout the trail and provides easy access to nearby local businesses.