Mayor Ken Welch and City Council
Imam Abdul Karim Ali, Tampa Bay Area Muslim Association
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (Feb. 4, 2025) – Mayor Kenneth T. Welch delivered the 2025 State of the City address from the Palladium Theater. The State of the City included accomplishments from 2024 and highlighted strength, unity, and resiliency for the upcoming year.
“As we enter 2025, the State of our city is strong, unified, and resilient,” said Mayor Welch. “This is a time of change, debate, anxiety, and even fear in our nation. And in this time of political strife, it’s vital that we, as a community, remain resolute and clear-minded about who we are. And we must remain unified around our principles – principles that define our community and reflect our shared values.”
The State of the City program began with a montage video of community members affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Soloist Deneen Wyman sang a stirring rendition of “Rise Up.” St. Pete Police and St. Pete Fire Rescue Honor Guards presented the colors.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by former Veteran of the Year recipients Mitch Lee, Louis Williams, Lucie Marie Stagg, John Green and Pat Mack. The Spirit of Tampa Bay Community Choir sang the National Anthem.
Invocations were provided by faith leaders Imam Abdul Karim Ali from the Tampa Bay Area Muslim Association, Rabbi Amy L. Morrison from Temple Beth-El St. Petersburg, and Reverend Markus-Derek White from the Historic Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Gloria Munoz, St. Pete Poet Laureate
Shore Acres Elementary School’s Eagle Chorus & Shore Beats gave a special performance. Gloria Muoz, the City’s Poet Laureate, debuted her poem entitled “Weathering,” in English and Spanish. St. Pete City Council Chair Copley Gerdes spoke on behalf of City Council. Mayor Welch delivered his State of the City address to the audience.
Mayor Welch’s Principles, also known as the “Six I’s,” have guided the mayor’s administration during his tenure: In-touch Leadership, Inclusive Governance, Informed Decision Making, Innovation, Intentional Equity, and Community Impact.
The Principles support the City’s five Pillars for Progress: 1) Education and Youth Opportunities; 2) Equitable Development, Arts and Business Opportunities; 3) Neighborhood Health and Safety; 4) Housing Opportunities for All; and 5) Environment, Infrastructure and Resilience.
“Together, these pillars are foundational to the long-term health and success of our community,” said Mayor Welch. “Our planning, budgeting, and operations all reflect these pillars. And our commitment to equity is foundational to our work.”
This year, Mayor Welch recognized the City’s Emergency Management Managers Amber Boulding and Megan Orlando for their work during Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
- In addition to Amber and Megan, Mayor Welch also recognized all City employees who worked during the storms, the teams at the Northeast and Southwest Wastewater Treatment Facilities, the debris-collecting Hometown Recovery Haulers, the City’s debris teams, the City’s permitting teams, and the City’s Executive Policy Group team.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM 2024
- The City assisted with bringing an additional 281 affordable housing units to residents. This includes Whispering Pines Apartments, the Edward White Campus, and Bear Creek Commons.
- 193 homeowners received help with safety, accessibility, and critical repairs like roofs and HVAC systems through City efforts and assistance.
- 87 first-time homebuyers achieved homeownership through the City’s Down Payment Assistance Program.
- The City launched a Renter Utility Relief Program which allocated approximately $3 million in funding to assist nearly 7,643 households with past due utility bills.
- The Mayor’s Future Ready Academy started working with its third cohort in 2024. The Mayor’s Future Ready Academy is an innovative job-training program providing full-time pay, benefits, and additional certification at Pinellas Technical College.
- The City’s Office of Equity, Parks and Recreation Department and St. Pete Police Department hosted the first-ever Safe Summer Fridays series. Young teems enjoyed an open gym, video games, movie nights and refreshments throughout the summer.
- Our economic growth remains strong. St. Pete experienced new construction value of nearly $1.4 billion in FY2024, a four percent increase from the previous year.
- The South St. Pete Community Redevelopment Area Microfund Program continued in 2024, assisting a total of 196 small businesses. More than $1.5 million was allocated to assist these businesses in implementing their newly developed business plans.
- More than 80 businesses applied to the City’s Minority-and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program, with 47 earning MWBE certification.
- In August, Foot Locker announced the relocation of its Global Headquarters to St. Pete, creating more than 150 high-paying jobs.
- To mitigate arts funding cuts by the State of Florida, the City added $695,000 for a total of $3.23 million in arts funding from the City.
PRIORITIES FOR 2025
- The St. Pete Agile Resilience Plan represents an aggressive, accelerated approach to strengthening the City’s infrastructure and ensuring long-term resilience in the face of climate challenges. The City anticipates advancing at least $750 million in additional investments over five years. More at www.stpete.org/SPAR
- A new Sanitation department complex, a much-needed facility that will replace 50-year-old buildings and aims for net-zero energy consumption, will have its ribbon cutting in Late Spring / Summer 2025.
- In 2025, our Office of Supplier Diversity will expand its support through the OSD Certification Lab and partner with St. Pete Greenhouse to launch a Technical Assistance Program, providing hands-on training and assistance to businesses seeking certification.
- The City will bring the Municipal Marina recommendations and proposal to City Council in March 2025.
- The Obama Library is on target to open by late Summer 2025.
- In 2025, the City will partner with Habitat for Humanity to develop affordable and workforce housing projects, including The Grove (10 units), Pelican Place (36 units), and Shell Dash (10 units).
- This year, work will begin at the former Ceridian campus and former Raytheon site, with each generating 100 new affordable and workforce housing units.
- The City will continue to leverage grant funding, and plan for the use of the $159 million CDBG Disaster Recovery grant awarded to the City to support housing infrastructure and other projects to increase resiliency.
“As we look ahead to 2025, one thing is clear – St. Petersburg is a city on the rise, unified, and focused on inclusive progress,” said Mayor Welch. “Our progress is built on dedication of our City team, the resilience of our residents, and the strength of our partnerships. From addressing housing challenges to driving economic opportunity, from enhancing public safety to advancing environmental resilience, we are taking bold, strategic steps toward a more inclusive and prosperous future for all.”
A full copy of Mayor Welch’s remarks and the City’s annual report can be found at www.stpete.org/mayor#reports.