THE GREENHOUSE 2024 ANNUAL REVIEW

St. Pete’s home of empowering small businesses, encouraging the entrepreneurial mindse, and creating opportunity for all to START, GROW and THRIVE.

2024 HIGHLIGHTED ACHIEVEMENTS

In 2025, the South St. Pete CRA Microfund Program provides personalized capacity building through business training, workshops, networking and an entrepreneurial mindset assessment, so business owners make targeted improvements to their businesses without the requirement of upfront capital. Over 196 small businesses served, with over $1.5M allocated to implement their business plans, which included 56 home-based businesses and 10 early-stage startups.

SOUTH ST. PETE CRA MICROFUND GRANT PROGRAM
Graduation Celebration: April 8, 2025

The Greenhouse finalized a Strategic Plan for 2024-2025, fostering a foundation from which a locally grown economy prospers. The plan helps establish a vision of an equitable community where all business owners have the resources necessary to start, grow and thrive.

THE GREENHOUSE STRATEGIC PLAN
2024 - 2025

In 2024, The Greenhouse was recognized as The Best Resource for Entrepreneurs by St. Pete Life Magazine! We're deeply honored to support our vibrant community of innovators and changemakers. Thank you for making us your go-to hub for entrepreneurial success!

THE BEST RESOURCE FOR ENTREPRENEURS
St. Pete Life Magazine

CLIENT ENGAGEMENT SNAPSHOT

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENTS
0

Client interactions and engagements through The Greenhouse’s services and events.

UNIQUE CLIENTS SERVED
0

Individual entrepreneurs serviced through consultation sessions, capacity building opportunities and staff assisted services.

TOTAL WORKSHOPS PRESENTED
0

Capacity building workshops and connection related events held in 2024 by The Greenhouse.

CLIENT DEMOGRAPHICS

Gender

64%     Female
36%     Male

Race

46%     White
42%     Black

12%     Hispanic
3%        Asian
10%     No Response

Other

6%        Veteran Clients Served
13%      LGBTQ+

48%      Pre-Venture and Startup

54%      Micro and Small/Medium

  • Business spotlights
  • Business navigation available in Spanish
  • Referrals to Prospera
  • St. Pete Chamber continues to liaise with the Hispanic Chamber
  • Participation in Latin American Trade Reception for delegates from Mexico, Colombia and the Dominican Republic
  • Increased Hispanic business engagement across programming
  • Business spotlights
  • Greenhouse Open House during Black Business Month
  • Black Business Walk: visited 40 businesses with our Greenhouse partners
  • BIPOC Business Quarterly Connection: two sessions held in 2024
  • Discussion of review/revamp of program underway with our Chamber partner
  • Increased black business engagement across programming
  • How to Reach and Grow Your Business within The LGBTQ+ Panel Discussion – May 2024
  • LGBTQ+ Business Networking & Panel Series – 2025
  • New partnership with Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber
  • Business spotlights
  • Connection to OSD in navigation sessions (standard in all navigation sessions for construction/goods & services)
  • Increased participation across Greenhouse programming
A collaboration with the City’s LGBTQ+ Liaison to:
  • Foster Connection & Collaboration – Provide LGBTQ+ business owners and allies with opportunities to network, share insights,   and explore partnerships
  • Empower Local Businesses – Highlight resources available through The Greenhouse and other local organizations to help   businesses thrive
  • Encourage Growth & Advocacy – Facilitate discussions on attracting and retaining businesses in St. Pete, particularly in   the current economic and political climate
  • Spotlight Local Experts – Feature speakers and panelists who live, work, and play in St. Pete, offering valuable perspectives to new   and growing businesses
  • Entrepreneurial Academy (Veterans Grant)
  • 15 participants
  • Includes 1-one-1 companionship model with a veteran business owner
  • 1 participant accepted into Veteran Florida’s Battle of Pitches
  • Next Entrepreneurial Academy with Veteran’s Grant – March 18 – April 28
  • Will continue to provide Boots to Business as follow-on opportunity
  • Veteran Business Services Workshop
  • Presented by SBA twice in 2024
  • OnDemand
  • Continue conversations with The Innovation District/The Hub

SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT ON ST. PETE COMMUNITY

Any business located in St. Petersburg are required to possess a Business Tax Certificate Receipt.  This is an annual business tax for all businesses, professionals, independent contractors and individuals who accept compensation for merchandise or services who are located in the city limits of St. Petersburg. The information collected also allows the city to track business growth and engage with firms at the local level.  

In Fiscal Year 2024, 15,386 separate businesses obtained a Business Tax Certificate.

Business Enterprise Program Updates

This section details the methods the City uses to engage small, local, and diverse businesses in order to  the bolster the pipeline of qualified bidders through our SBE and MWBE programs.

The Office of Supplier and Diversity received and processed  a total of 263 Business Enterprise applications for the SBE and MWBE programs  — 83 of which were for the MWBE program. In FY24, 346 unique businesses were actively certified with the City of St. Petersburg across both programs. This represents a 41% percent increase in overall certified firms since the inception of the Office of Supplier Diversity in FY23. The City also surpassed 300 certified businesses, the highest total certified firms since 2018.

TOTAL UNIQUE BUSINESSES
0
TOTAL SESSIONS
0
TOTAL CONTACT HOURS
0 %

CAPACITY BUILDING

The Greenhouse partners with SBDC and Pinellas Count Score  to offer 1-on-1 expert business assistance by appointment at no cost for entrepreneurs at all stage of business. Use this resource to discuss plans for business startup, expansion or to establish an ongoing relationship through personal and confidential sessions.

Partner Business Consulting/Mentoring (SBDC and SCORE)
APPLICATIONS PROCESSED
0
BUSINESSES FUNDED
0
BUSINESS ENGAGEMENTS
0
Workshops and Training

Entrepreneurship training provides individuals with the aptitude to identify business opportunities, confidence building, knowledge and skills to act on them. It includes instruction in chance identification, commercializing a concept, managing resources, and initiating business speculation.

TOTAL EVENTS
0
TOTAL ATTENDANCES
0
NEW TITLES ADDED
0

NAVIGATION

The Greenhouse’s professional staff, also known as Navigators, are trained to deliver business assistance in a personalized manner. This concierge approach centers around relationship building, process navigation, and results-based solutions.

Greenhouse staff liaison services
TOTAL UNIQUE CLIENTS SERVED
0
TOTAL SESSIONS
0
TOTAL CONTACT HOURS
0
Top Areas of Assistance
Business Startup/Requisition
52%
Sources of Capital
65%
Marketing and Sales
79%
Community Development
64%
Business Expansion
72%
Special Projects with Outreach Provided

COORDINATION

Lack of coordination allows viable funding opportunities to leak through the cracks. The Greenhouse advocates for and administers local business initiatives and grant programs that are needed to help support local startups and existing small business.

EVENTS HELD
0
ENTREPRENEUR PARTICIPANTS
0
TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED
$ 0
SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPANTS
0
ACCOUNTABILITY SESSIONS
0

The Greenhouse-Eckerd Experience in Entrepreneurship is a collaboration of The Greenhouse and Eckerd College to support and sustain small businesses while also providing students with real-world small business experience.

AWARENESS

Locally owned businesses are the fabric of St. Pete and create local character and prosperity. We promote our small business community through storytelling and advocacy of St. Pete and its entrepreneurs.

The Greenhouse News
ARTICLES PUBLISHED
0
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS
0
Small Business Week
HOSTED EVENTS
0
BUSINESSES PARTCIPATED
0

CONNECTION

Connections are essential when launching and growing your business. Community building programs and events offered through The Greenhouse -and its partners- link St. Pete’s entrepreneurs to the local ecosystem. 

1 Million Cups
HOSTED EVENTS
0
TOTAL ATTENDEES
0
Nonprofit Connect
HOSTED EVENTS
0
TOTAL ATTENDEES
0

SOUTH ST. PETE CRA MICROFUND PROGRAM UPDATES

Provides personalized capacity building through business training, workshops, networking and an entrepreneurial mindset assessment, so business owners can make targeted improvements to their businesses without the requirement of upfront capital.

Businesses aware of Greenhouse Services
0
Satisfied with Greenhouse Services Provided
$ 0 MILLION
Businesses aware of Greenhouse Services
0
Satisfied with Greenhouse Services Provided
0