October 4, 2025

St. Petersburg City Council Approves $160 Million HUD Grant

News Summary

The St. Petersburg City Council has unanimously approved a nearly $160 million grant from HUD for hurricane recovery efforts, known as Sunrise St. Pete. This program aims to assist low- to moderate-income homeowners by facilitating home rebuilding and elevation, focusing on neighborhoods severely hit by recent storms. Initial activities are set to begin by November 2025, prioritizing community engagement and feedback in the planning process to address critical housing challenges and enhance resilience against future disasters.

St. Petersburg City Council has unanimously approved a nearly $160 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) aimed at supporting hurricane recovery efforts through a new program dubbed “Sunrise St. Pete.” This initiative is designed to tackle significant housing challenges by aiding in the rebuilding and elevation of homes, specifically in neighborhoods severely affected by recent storms.

The city officials are gearing up to launch initial activities related to the Sunrise St. Pete program by November 2025, with expectations for complete implementation by early 2026. The priority of the program will be to assist income-eligible homeowners, ensuring that a substantial 70% of the funding directly benefits low- to moderate-income households.

As part of the program’s framework, the first efforts will be concentrated on residential recovery and elevation procedures, particularly in areas like Shore Acres that have felt the brunt of the last year’s hurricanes. Residents in this neighborhood have voiced concerns about the slow recovery progress, highlighting the urgent need for elevation, rehabilitation, or complete rebuilding of their homes.

The grant represents a segment of the larger allocation of nearly $12 billion in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds distributed among 24 states and territories. St. Petersburg proudly stands out as the only city in the Tampa Bay area to receive this particular funding, even as Pinellas County and the State of Florida secured larger sums.

Eligible projects under this grant encompass a wide array of needs, including housing repairs, infrastructure enhancements, economic revitalization initiatives, and the development of affordable housing. The city is committed to fostering community engagement throughout the planning of these recovery programs. Public input is actively being sought through various events, including Mayor Welch’s City Hall On Tour.

The detailed timeline for distributing the funds is as follows: from March to May 2025, public input will be utilized to inform the development of the Action Plan, and a public meeting for community input is scheduled for March 26, 2025. Following this, there will be a public hearing and opportunities for online feedback from May to June 2025. The finalized Action Plan will be submitted to HUD by July 2025, with the federal agency allocated 45 days to review and approve the plan. By the third quarter of 2025, a grant agreement is anticipated, with actual funds reaching St. Petersburg within approximately two years.

The draft action plan proposes allocating about 66% of the funds for housing needs, 16% for infrastructure improvements, 12% for public services, 5% for administration, and 1% for planning purposes. This distribution aims to address the multifaceted challenges faced by homeowners still grappling with recovery from the damages and extensive flooding sustained during the disasters.

Community feedback plays a vital role in this recovery effort, with written comments on the draft action plan encouraged by June 23, 2025. The final action plan will be submitted for HUD approval once public comments are finalized. St. Petersburg’s proactive steps towards establishing this recovery program reflect a significant commitment to enhancing the resilience and safety of its communities following devastating natural disasters.

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Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER

ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.

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