ST. PETERSBURG – In coordination with other mayors across Pinellas County, St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch is leading a request to federal appropriators for additional funding and support for environmental resilience programs that support raising homes, hardening infrastructure, and developing long-term strategies to mitigate disasters.

The request emphasizes the need for increased funding for key discretionary grants administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) including the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program (HMGP), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA).

"I am grateful to my fellow mayors for joining me in this vital request that will benefit Pinellas County residents," said Mayor Welch. "This proposed increase in federal funding would allow St. Petersburg to help more residents make their homes more resilient during seasonal and storm flooding and sea level rise."

The text of the letter can be found HERE. Joining Mayor Welch in this request are: Mayor Ayoub of Safety Harbor, Mayor Brown of Largo, Mayor Gattis of Belleair Beach, Mayor Hendrickson of Redington Shores, Mayor Houseberg of Indian Rocks Beach, Mayor Payne of Treasure Island, Mayor Rector of Clearwater, Mayor Rostek of Madeira Beach, Mayor Saracki of Oldsmar, Mayor Bujalski of Dunedin, Mayor Wilkinson of Belleair, and Mayor Zemaitis of Kenneth City.