March 4, 2022

District 6 Update

Greetings from the State Capitol. I’ve been up here all week working on local budget projects for District 6, including the Corbett Levee and Glades Workforce Training programs. I’m also working with my county commission colleagues and the Florida Association of Counties against attempts to restrict local governments’ ability to provide the public with factual information on referendums, protect our ability to provide transparency to the public on local budget matters, and other measures meant to tie the hands of the local governments you elect. My position remains that local decisions are best left to local communities.

I promised when first elected that I would work with my state and federal partners on behalf of my district. This is a promise fulfilled. My feet are sore from running around this Capitol. But it’s worth it. Thanks to our local delegation for helping as much as possible and to our outstanding Legislative Affairs team. Go #TeamPalmBeach!

COVID-19 Testing Kit Distribution Event

On March 2, my office attended the COVID-19 testing kit distribution event for those experiencing homelessness, held at the Belle Glade Loading Ramp. Additional services that were provided include N-95 mask distribution, vaccine booster shots, HIV services, Narcan education, Community IDS, showers and haircuts, tax returns, and food distribution. I want to thank Palm Beach County Community Services and all of its partners for this important event. Together, we were able to make a positive impact on many lives.

Aide Lisa Wilson with PBC Community Services Director James Green

La Mancha Flooding Update

Upon hearing of the flooding in La Mancha on Monday, February 28th, due to a broken fire hydrant valve, my office contacted Water Utilities, Fire Rescue, and the Village of Royal Palm Beach to ensure a prompt response for residents and swift infrastructure repairs. I'm happy to share that restoration and sidewalk repairs are already underway.

Resilient Florida Funding

Great news! Palm Beach County has received Resilient Florida funding for four different projects to be used to continue strengthening our infrastructure resiliency. One of these projects is $7.7 million for the Western Region Wastewater Treatment Facility in Belle Glade! The purpose of this funding, provided through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, is to "help prepare coastal and inland communities for the adverse impacts of flooding and storm surge." The projects and funding are:

• Australian Avenue Drainage Improvements: $13,357,119

• Western Region Wastewater Treatment Facility Operations Building Replacement: $7,707,222

• Wastewater Lift Station LS 0637 Hardening Improvements: $250,000

• Indian Trail Improvement District M-2 Bypass: $194,662

Additionally, Palm Beach County has also been short listed for a $500,000 Resilient Florida planning grant to perform a flooding and sea level rise vulnerability assessment. The Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact and the Coastal Resilience Partnership of Southeast Palm Beach County, of which the County is a founding member on both, have also received funding to further advance climate change planning.

I want to thank County staff for all their efforts to help Palm Beach County be a leader in climate change resilience planning.

Alyssa Sangeeta Jacobson Scholarship

Friends of Youth Services and Palm Beach County, Inc. has announced the call for applications for the 2022 Alyssa Sangeeta Jacobson Scholarship. The scholarship opened on February 1 and will close on March 31, 2022.

The Alyssa Sangeeta Jacobson Scholarship is dedicated to those who need a little extra assistance in achieving educational goals. The scholarship provides $1,000 per year, distributed over two semesters to each recipient, and is renewable for up to four years, depending on the degree or certificate program.

For more information on the scholarship and the application criteria, please visit http://pbcgov.com/ysd-scholarship or contact Geeta-Loach Jacobson, Director of Outreach and Community Programming of Palm Beach County Youth Services, at 561-242-5713.

PBC Cooperative Extension to Offer Workshop for First-Time Homebuyers

Are you thinking about purchasing a home? Learn about the steps to homeownership and how to obtain an affordable mortgage in Palm Beach County (PBC) by attending the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension First-Time Home Buyer workshop. The class is provided by the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension, a local agency approved by Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The course is HUD-approved and is an 8-hour, pre-purchase, homebuyer workshop that meets the homebuyer education requirement for workforce housing and down payment assistance programs. Participants must attend two 4-hour sessions or one 8-hour session for successful completion of the 8-hour program.

Classes are $10 per individual/couple. A scholarship is available to those who qualify. The sessions are offered online via Zoom in English and Spanish.

To purchase tickets, visit https://homebuyered.eventbrite.com

Workshop Dates in English:

March 18 & 25 (Fridays) 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (two sessions)

For more information, please contact Cyndi Longley at clongley@pbcgov.org or 561-233-1744.