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.
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.
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!
Client interactions and engagements through The Greenhouse’s services and events.
Individual entrepreneurs serviced through consultation sessions, capacity building opportunities and staff assisted services.
Capacity building workshops and connection related events held in 2024 by The Greenhouse.
64% Female
36% Male
46% White
42% Black
12% Hispanic
3% Asian
10% No Response
6% Veteran Clients Served
13% LGBTQ+
48% Pre-Venture and Startup
54% Micro and Small/Medium
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.