Youth Development Grant Applications Available!

The City of St. Petersburg released the applications for this year’s cycle of Youth Development Grants – a city program providing opportunities for funding to non-profit local organizations, in good standing, who provide services to youth and are located within the municipal boundaries of St. Petersburg.

Applications for the Youth Program Development grants will be available online at stpete.org/MBSK starting March 12, 2019. Applicants should register at mbsk-ydg.smapply.org. Applications are due Tuesday, April 23.

There will be one voluntary information session for the community to learn more about the program are scheduled for Tuesday, March 19 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the St. Petersburg Main Library, 3745 9^th Ave. N. FAQs will be available online following the information session. Questions can be submitted using the Youth Development Grant Q&A Online Form.

For more information about the Youth Program Development Grants, contact Leah McRae, Director of Education and Community Engagement, at Leah.McRae@stpete.org.

NEW: Sister's Kin-nect

The newest program of the Sister's Keeper Collective is Sister's Kin-nect -- "A community of inspiring women igniting and connecting opportunities."

This annual event will offer a dynamic evening of personal investment, intention to ignite and inspire! The first event will kick off on Friday, March 22, 2019 at The Coliseum (535 4th Ave. N.) from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Fill out the Sister’s Kin-nect Registration Form prior to the event to attend.

For more information, visit stpete.org/MBSK.

You're Invited: Water Facility Open Houses

This April, three of St. Pete’s water treatment plants will open their doors for attendees to learn about the process of water treatment and the work that goes into keeping the city flowing.

Saturday, 4/6, 9 a.m. - noon
Northwest Water Reclamation Facility
7500 26th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710

Saturday, 4/20, 9 a.m. - noon
Northeast Water Reclamation Facility
1160 62nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
Press invited to attend

Saturday, 4/27, 9 a.m. - noon
Cosme Drinking Water Plant
16150 Race Track Rd, Odessa, FL 33556

More information here.

Eco-Friendly Business Toolkit: Minimizing Plastics

The City of St. Petersburg has developed a resource to assist businesses impacted by the recently approved ordinance regulating the use of single-use plastics. This tool is the first of a series of resources - collectively referred to as City of St. Petersburg's Business Toolkits - available to businesses.

The digital toolkit includes key statistics, dates and recommended next steps for businesses looking to reduce single-use plastics. To view this volume of the Business Toolkit, visit www.stpete.org/plastics.

In 2018, St. Petersburg's City Council approved ordinances limiting single-use plastic straws and expanded polystyrene (EPS or "Styrofoam") in food service establishments. Community volunteers and City outreach teams have deployed to educate and interface with local businesses during the transitionary period before the ordinances take effect on Jan. 1, 2020. During 2019, businesses are encouraged to only provide plastic straws upon request and explore alternatives to plastic straws and Styrofoam.

Heads Up: City Administrative Updates

UPDATED VISITOR PROCEDURE AT MSC

Effective 4/1, the Municipal Services Center at One 4th St N will be implementing updated security procedures for visitors. Access beyond the first floor will require a City staff escort. Questions? Call the Mayor’s Action Center at 727-893-7111.

CITY PORTAL UPGRADES
The Employment Office’s application portal be unavailable 3/18-4/8 for system upgrades. There will be no jobs posted or applications accepted during the outage. Questions? Contact the Employment Office at jobs@stpete.org, 727-892-5107 or visit stpete.org/jobs.

The Procurement iSupplier portal will be unavailable 3/22-3/31 for system upgrades. Registration, edits to your supplier record and electronic responses to solicitations will be offline during this time. More information here.