Boys & Girls Club reports program growth; council approves related agenda item

Freddie Williams and Ryan Becker of the Boys & Girls Clubs delivered a one-year progress report to the council, describing regional scale and local impact. Williams said the organization now serves more than 24,000 young people across the Tampa Bay region, with roughly half of that total in Pinellas County and more than 3,000 served each day locally. The presenters credited a 2023–2024 merger and emphasized programs under the 'prosperity pathways' workforce-readiness initiative.

Williams told council that an independent study showed a $50,000 city investment in the program generated over $2.5 million in social and economic value to the St. Petersburg community. Ryan Becker described the program’s structure — a 32-hour workforce academy, financial-literacy offerings, and paid internships with partners such as Bank of America and BayCare — and highlighted efforts to validate that city-funded slots serve St. Petersburg residents through data-sharing agreements.

Council members praised the program and asked follow-up questions about resident verification and potential partnerships with St. Petersburg College and the city’s maritime/defense technology hub. Staff and presenters said quarterly reporting and cross-references with state and local data-sharing partners are used to validate participant residency.

After discussion, the council moved and seconded approval of agenda item F1 related to the Boys & Girls Club presentation; the clerk announced the motion passed unanimously with Council Member Gabbard absent. No dollar amount of the approved item was stated on the meeting record beyond presenters’ references during their report.