St. Petersburg Anchors Collaborative
Influential and enduring institutions with economic and social clout are often called anchor institutions. Relationships with these partners can help change systems.
In 2022, the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg helped coordinate and announce a partnership between four major city institutions to improve equity and health in South St. Petersburg. These enduring institutions – St. Anthony’s Hospital, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, and the City of St. Petersburg – represent the inaugural members of the St. Petersburg Anchors Collaborative (SAC), which is convened and fueled by the Foundation. Since that time, we’ve added a new SAC member: HCA Florida Northside Hospital.
The thinking behind SAC is simple. As major city employers, these institutions have the power to shift outcomes when they work together. Together, they’ve committed to collaborating on local hiring, procurement, and data-sharing with a goal of improving economic opportunities – and health outcomes – for South St. Petersburg residents. Read on to learn more about vendor and career opportunities through this innovative partnership.
Programs and Opportunities
Small Business Development Program
A group of six small business owners from South St. Pete formed the inaugural class of our Anchors Collaborative’s Small Business Development Program. From September 28 through November 2, these local entrepreneurs gathered at the Foundation offices from 6PM-8PM each Thursday with facilitator Liz Siplin from Empact Solutions for expert coaching on topics including researching marketing and technology solutions, conducting competitor analyses, scaling their businesses, building and leveraging relationships, handling administrative duties like bookkeeping and financial statements, writing successful bid proposals, and more.
The goal is to better position these local businesses to secure lucrative contracts, helping support the local economy and job creation in the process. The group will continue to meet for an additional month to work on developing their business plans and applying for certifications that could boost their growth.
Learn More
Career Fairs
The Anchors Collaborative hosts career fairs throughout the year in South St. Petersburg. Our October 12 Fair, which drew in more than 400 attendees, was held in collaboration with St. Pete Works and Pinellas County Urban League, CareerSource Pinellas, and others. Our career fairs offer on-site interviews and job offers, plus access to resources like resume assistance, childcare, education and training info, and more.
See PhotosQuestions? Email Foundation Strategic Initiatives Manager Dr. Bilan Josph at bilan@healthystpete.foundation.
