South St. Pete Co-op Grocery Plans Get $50K Boost

One Community Grocery Co-op (OCGC) has secured a $50,000 predevelopment funding agreement with the City of St. Petersburg. The funds will support planning for a community-owned grocery store in South St. Petersburg.

The money will cover market analyses, business modeling, site selection, training for community members, and outreach efforts. OCGC aims to build capacity for residents to participate in their local food system.

“This agreement represents an investment not only in the development of a grocery store, but also in the capacity of South St. Petersburg residents to organize, learn, plan, and be an important part of our local food system,” said Erica “Zenzele” Hardison, OCGC Board President and Lead Steward. “There is significant work ahead of us, and this funding gives us additional resources to do that work thoughtfully and responsibly.”

OCGC member-owners, board members, and local partners met this month at the co-op's headquarters in the Historic Deuces Business District to celebrate the agreement. This milestone acknowledges years of grassroots organizing that have moved the project into the technical planning phase.

OCGC continues to invite South St. Pete residents to become member-owners, who will help shape the future storefront and its food programs. The co-op also recently launched another round of its Produce Box Program, connecting community members with fresh produce and refining supplier logistics.

“We often say that we are building the store before we build the store. The brick-and-mortar grocery store is the long-term goal, but a community-owned grocery store requires more than a building. It requires informed and engaged member-owners, strong relationships with growers and partners, sound business planning, operating experience, and a community prepared to sustain what we build together,” Hardison explained.

Residents interested in learning more about OCGC or becoming a member-owner can visit the co-op’s website.