SPC Hosts Midtown Vendor Fair with Food Trucks, Vendors, FAFSA Help and Free College Application

St. Petersburg College (SPC) is hosting the Midtown Vendor Fair on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the SPC Midtown Center, 1300 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg. This free event encourages future Titans to learn more about SPC and get their $40 college application waived when they apply!

The event will feature food trucks, vendors and SPC financial aid representatives who can help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. Also, the College’s $40 application fee will be waived for anyone who attends.

“Future Titans can expect to learn more about local businesses and SPC while attending the vendor fair,” said Sheila McCants, the Culture and Engagement Manager at SPC. “The SPC admissions and financial aid teams will be on hand to answer questions and assist with completing admissions and FAFSA applications, and for this occasion, the admissions application fee will be waived.”

The event will showcase local small businesses, including health and wellness, crafts, clothing, food and beauty products.

Midtown Center History

SPC Midtown's original campus opened in 2003 as part of a $2 million St. Petersburg Housing Authority’s HOPE VI project. As demand for classes and community involvement grew, SPC opened the Douglas L. Jamerson, Jr. Midtown Center in 2015, a 49,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building in the heart of the Midtown corridor affectionately known as "The Deuces."

SPC continues its mission to be a beacon for the community and stand in the gap by bringing forward opportunities for the betterment of the Midtown corridor, South St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. In the county, the College has an annual impact of $1.2 billion and supports more than 17,500 jobs annually through its and its students’ activities. The Midtown Center will continue to be an integral part of this impact with its new manufacturing lab.

Midtown Manufacturing Lab

Last year, SPC’s Board of Trustees approved the addition of a manufacturing training lab at the Midtown Center to address regional and state industry needs. Through the lab and purchase of high-tech equipment, SPC will provide hands-on, real-world experience to prepare students for today’s advanced manufacturing workforce. With its location in Midtown St. Petersburg, the lab will offer opportunities for the area's unemployed, underemployed and/or veterans to earn credentials and gain high-wage technician jobs, providing residents with increased opportunities for professional development, education, and training.