South St. Pete CRA Microfund Program

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ATTENTION: Applications for the South St. Petersburg CRA Microfund Program have closed.

South St. Pete CRA Microfund Program

Program Overview

The South St. Petersburg CRA Microfund Program offers personalized capacity building through increased education, mentoring, and networking in exchange for funding so business owners can make targeted and planful improvements without having to provide upfront capital. Through this funding package, the City’s goal is to ensure businesses within the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) can take advantage of the capital access initiative.

It is important to know that you must be located within the geographic boundaries of South St. Petersburg CRA to qualify.

Use the map to verify if your business is located in the South St. Petersburg CRA.

South St. Petersburg CRA Map

What You Need To Know

  • The Microfund requires no upfront capital.
  • The Program offers personalized capacity building through increased education, mentoring, and networking in exchange for CRA funding so business owners can make targeted and planful improvements without having to provide upfront capital.
  • Cohort will be given up to 60 business days to complete the assigned capacity-building curriculum which may require up to 18 hours of attendance and/or engagement.
  • Program periods are expected to recur upon the completion of each cohort

How It Works

  • The 2024 Microfund Program will launch with a 30-day open application period from Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 10 a.m. through Monday, January 15, 2024 at 8 p.m.
  • This program will run three cohorts with a maximum of 135 total participants (anticipating 45 businesses per cohort).
  • Applicants meeting program eligibility will be placed in one of the three cohorts based on the order of application completion, until all spots are filled.
  • Once the maximum number of participants is reached, any remaining applicants may apply for a future funding round. 
  • Microfund Program graduates may be eligible to submit an application for a different business three years from the date of their original program participation. 

Funding Levels

  • Existing Brick and Mortar - $10,000
  • Existing Family Childcare - $10,000
  • Existing Home-Based Business - $5,000
  • Existing Shared Commercial Space - $5,000
  • Early-Stage Startup - $2,500

Eligibility

Be sure to consider the following before you apply.

  • Applicants must own a business located within the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) for at least six months.

  • Microfund Program graduates may be eligible to submit an application for a different business three years after the date of their original program participation. 

  • Spending plans will be developed to ensure funds deployed meet program eligibility standards.

Applicant Resources

Documents

Microfund 101 Workshops

The Greenhouse will offer both in-person and hybrid in-person/virtual informational sessions to educate businesses on program information, eligibility, the application process, and more.

Please Note: Applicants must have attended a Microfund 101 Workshop or view the recorded Webinar to fulfill a mandatory prerequisite. Applications will only be considered complete upon successful completion of this requirement. The recorded Webinar can be viewed below. 

Microfund 101 Workshop Webinar

How to Apply

Applications for the South St. Petersburg CRA Microfund Program are now closed. Check this site for future application periods.

Get In Touch

Any questions, email microfund@stpetegreenhouse.com or call 727-893-7146.

A Big 'Thank You' To Our Partners

  • The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce
  • SCORE Pinellas County
  • Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development
  • Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation

2023 Summer Cohort Program Recap

Continue to check this webpage for updates and more information. 

If you would like to receive email updates straight to your inbox as they become available, please sign up for our incentive notifications at www.stpetegreenhouse.com/incentives.