The City of Largo is interested in learning how to improve arts events, programming, and outreach so that everyone can find something to enjoy. Please take our quick survey to share your input on what you would like to see at the Central Park Performing Arts Center! The survey will be open until March 31. Survey participants will also be entered to win a 4-pack of CPPAC tickets or Apple AirPods!

The next virtual Sustainability Series workshop will be Saturday, March 13 at 10:30am live on Facebook. Join presenters Taylor Kahns from the Largo Central Park Nature Preserve and Lara Milligan from Natural Resources Agent UF/IFAS Extension as we explore how spending time with nature can help improve our overall well-being. Hear from our panelists and ask questions about sustainable and modern self-care.

The City of Largo’s FY 21-22 Application cycle is now open for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. The City is accepting applications for public facility projects for non profit agencies that add, expand or improve services that will help Largo residents physically, mentally and/or economically thrive in Largo. Projects must predominantly benefit households whose income is at or below 80% of Area Median Income. Bonus points will be awarded to projects that include energy efficiency and/or disaster hardening as part of the project. Non-profit agencies are invited to visit the City of Largo’s Housing Division website for the full Notice of Funding Availability and link to the application. All applications are due by March 24, 2021 at 5:00 PM. For questions on the application, please contact the Housing Division at: housing@largo.com or call (727) 586-7489 ext. 7212. Applications for public services are not being accepted at this time. It is anticipated that public service agreements with existing public service subrecipient (non-profit) agencies will be extended through next year.

Last fiscal year, the City received notification from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that it was allocated two rounds of funding totaling $828,382 from the federal CARES Act through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program specifically for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic (CDBG-CV funds). The City’s top tier funding priorities were: 1)Empower Largo – Improving Long-Term Household Economic Stability; and 2) “Safer at Home” - Eviction Prevention. The secondary tier funding priority was: Healthy at Home – Access to Healthy Foods.

An application cycle was held for non-profit organizations to apply under these priority categories. The City received 11 applications totaling more than $3.5 million. A subgroup of Community Recovery Team members served as the application review committee and made funding recommendations to the Community Development Advisory Board on February 22, 2021. The applications below were recommended for funding.

Empower Largo: Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services (PEMHS) – Located in City limits, the agency will add a full-time case manager/navigator to provide intensive strength-based economic sustainability case management for low-wage working households and other vulnerable households in Largo to aide in long-term financial stability.

Safer at Home: National Foundation for Debt Management will provide emergency budget counseling, eviction and foreclosure mediation, as well as aid households with the application process for direct rent assistance programs. The agency is located in the City of Largo. St. Vincent De Paul CARES program will expand staffing to cover the Largo area for assisting high-risk households that may have had prior homeless experiences or are at high-risk of becoming homeless.

Healthy at Home: High Point Community Pride was selected for a portion of CDBG-CV and the City’s CDBG funds available for pandemic response. The project will add some part-time employment opportunities in the High Point area for food distribution toward food costs. Feeding Tampa Bay was also selected to establish and provide some initial funding costs a new “Feeding Minds” neighborhood food distribution point at Ridgecrest YMCA. Feeding Tampa Bay also operates its FreshForce program that provides opportunities for clients to obtain job training in commercial driving, warehouse logistics and culinary arts.

A substantial amendment to the FY 2019-2020 CDBG Action Plan must be completed before HUD will release the funding agreement for CDBG-CV to the City. That amendment is scheduled for the March 16, 2021 City Commission meeting. The Housing Division hopes to be able to start these programs in April/May.

From weddings and receptions, corporate events, graduations, and much more, host your next event with the Central Park Performing Arts Center. Social distancing is easy to achieve in any one of three rental spaces, varying from 2,000 to 4,000 square feet. Visit LargoArts.com/VenueRentals to take a virtual tour and book your next event.