Release posted on 01-22-2024 at 2:25 p.m.

On Wednesday, January 24th, at 1 p.m., at the St. Petersburg Police Department Media Room, 1301 1st Avenue North, Chief Anthony Holloway will distribute $164,455 to five community youth programs focused on the arts and educational mentorship. Mayor Ken Welch will also attend.

The St. Petersburg Police Dept. applied for and was awarded the funds through the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).

The COPS Microgrant funds will be awarded to:

• Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation -$84,455.00 to assist transitioning middle school students to succeed in high school
• Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts -$10,000 to provide art education field trips
• Great Explorations - $5,000 for educational materials for after-school programs for Title 1 children
• Morean Arts Center -$15,000 for scholarships for students to attend art camp
• Morean Arts Center -$15,000 for scholarships for students to attend art camp
• Arts Conservatory for Teens -$50,000 to support staffing to increase youth participation in performance arts

This is the third time the St. Petersburg Police Department has received this grant to fund programs providing positive activities for youth with a foundation of education. The first year the Department awarded stipends to high school seniors furthering their education, the second year the funds went to assist local youth sports organizations and after-school tutoring.

The goal is to remove economic barriers to participation in hopes that it will divert teens from potential criminal activity and steer them toward positive accomplishments.