About Grow Smarter
The Grow Smarter Alliance
The Grow Smarter Alliance is an advisory board of leaders representing for-profit, nonprofit, and government organizations. They activate their collective power toward policy and programmatic priorities.
| City of St. Petersburg |
| St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation |
| St. Petersburg Arts Alliance |
| Pinellas County Urban League |
| One Community |
| St. Pete Business League |
| St. Pete Downtown Partnership |
| St. Petersburg Innovation District |
| St. Pete Works |
| St. Petersburg Greenhouse |
| St. Pete Chamber of Commerce |
| Leadership St. Petersburg Alumni Association |
| Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg |
| University of South Florida |
| St. Petersburg College |
| Eckerd College |
| Prospera |
| Pinellas Community Church |
| Pinellas County School Board |
| Florida Blue |
| Regions Bank |
| PERC |
| Habitat for Humanity |
| Deuces Live |
| St. Petersburg Police Department |
| Bayfront/Orlando Health |
| Sierra Club |
| St. Pete Chamber of Commerce |
Small Business Support During COVID-19
Grow Smarterconducted two rapid Community Needs Assessments during 2020. The first was completed in early April, and included nearly 200 online survey responses from local businessesas well as input from Grow Smarter’s steering committee and community leaders across the business, faith, nonprofit, and government sectors. Based on this needs assessment,Grow Smarter designed its COVID-19 response in partnership with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, the Greenhouse, St. Pete Chamber, St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation, One Community, SPC, St. Pete Arts Alliance, Warehouse Arts District Association, Deuces Live, and others.
Grow Smarter conducted a second rapid Community Needs Assessment in May 2020, to ensure our efforts were still on track.
ACTION PLAN
Based on the needs assessments described above, Grow Smarter created a comprehensive community response.
BUSINESS RESILIENCY TEAM PROGRAM
- The Business Resiliency Team navigators based at the St. Petersburg Greenhouse serve as advocates for local businesses, identifying needs and helping connect them to resources and subject-matter experts
- BRT members will focus their outreach on minority and women-owned businesses and sole proprietors throughout St. Petersburg, with a focus on South St. Petersburg.
RESOURCE SUPPORT IN SOUTH ST. PETE
- Grow Smarter will fund one year of GoZone Wi-Fi connectivity on the Deuces Live corridor, as well as two additional GoZone Wi-Fi hotspots in South St. Petersburg.
- Grow Smarter will support a Resource and Resiliency Hub located at the Warehouse Arts District Association to support residents who are affected by COVID-19 in partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay, Bay Area Legal Council, Deuces Live, One Community, and other organizations.
- Grow Smarter will provide funding to St Pete Arts Alliance to support their efforts to alleviate COVID-19 hardships endured within the arts and culture community.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
- Grow Smarter will contribute $25,000 to One Community’s #InThisTogether COVID Support program, to be distributed to businesses and residents of South St. Pete in the form of microgrants, new contracts and new gigs.
- Grow Smarter will create an endowed Grow Smarter Scholarship Program at SPC, of which $25,000 will be distributed in 2020. The scholarship will be for certification programs in the Grow Smarter targeted industry areas. Grow Smarter will aim to amplify this investment through soliciting additional donations from other partners.
Mission
Build an inclusive, multi-sector initiative to create equitable economic growth in St. Petersburg by building connections, advancing conversations and sparking action.
Vision
St. Petersburg will grow equitably and have a vibrant, diversified economy that benefits all.
History
In 2018, a grant from the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg allowed Grow Smarter to hire staff and bring an equity lens to these economic development efforts. Since 2018, Grow Smarter has helped spark St. Pete Pitch Night, supported Digital Inclusion work, and connected with hundreds of community partners.
