With the ongoing limitations to business and economic activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the St. Petersburg Foundation, together with its activation partner The St. Petersburg Group, offered the Jobs Catalyst Initiative to serve individuals, nonprofits and the community.

The Jobs Catalyst program provided support to:

• Area workers whose employment hours were reduced or cut due to COVID-19 effects.
• Area nonprofits who needed additional people-power to meet rising demand.
• The community through the good work done by participant workers newly plugged into area nonprofits.

Through funding from local corporations and individuals, people whose work had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic were able to apply online for positions that are open immediately. The Jobs Catalyst program then matched individuals to available opportunities with local nonprofits.

All on-site jobs were with organizations providing essential services and who had established protocols for a safe work environment.