July 8, 2022

Marlene Young Award

Early in my tenure as the District 6 County Commissioner, I recognized how joining the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) could help me serve my constituents and make positive change as a local government official. Through FAC, I received a strong education about numerous issues affecting local government and met other local officials throughout the state who became not only friends but also mentors. This participation culminated with my FAC colleagues selecting me to serve as President for the 2020-2021 term.

Being a part of FAC has been one of the great experiences of my life and career. I had the opportunity to meet people across Florida who put aside party politics for the common goal of promoting the importance of local government and protecting home rule authority.

This is why it was such a special moment when my FAC colleagues surprised me with the Marlene Young Award at FAC's Annual Conference on June 30th. This award is given to a county leader who has shown extraordinary leadership and commitment to FAC's mission. I'm honored that I earned the trust and respect of so many officials I admire. No matter where in Florida we live, no matter whether small county or large, rural or urban, we all share the same common purpose: to serve our communities to the best of our abilities. And through FAC we strengthened those abilities, making our counties, and thus our state, a better place for the constituents we represent.

Fire Rescue Rollback Ceremony

On July 6th, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue held the official Rollback Ceremony for its new truck! The ceremony is a 150-year firefighter tradition to bless and dedicate a new truck by manually rolling it into its station. This vehicle is the tallest and heaviest in the fleet. Its ladder can extend 10 stories high, swing 360 degrees, and hose 2000 gallons a minute.

Housed at Station 29 on Belvedere Road in Royal Palm Beach, it will serve Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, The Acreage, Loxahatchee Groves, and Westlake, as well as travel wherever it is needed.

Palm Beach County Recycling

Awesome news from the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County--SWA surpassed its 75% Recycling Goal for the first time! For calendar year 2021, Palm Beach County achieved an overall 78% recycling rate and ranks #2 in all of Florida. For a large county, this is an especially significant achievement!

Air Conditioning Replacement Program

PBC Community Services to Offer Air Conditioning (HVAC) Replacement Program to Homeowners

The Crisis Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Replacement Program, through LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program), is working to assist low-income Palm Beach County homeowners in need of replacing their home’s HVAC system, with assistance up to $15,000. This money can be used to replace their home cooling system.

Clients must be income-eligible, live in Pam Beach County, and are required to show that they are in a crisis situation. Completed applications must show one or more of the following:

• The HVAC system no longer cools

• HVAC unit is 10 years or older

• Proof of high energy bills

• Proof of life threatening environment via a doctor’s statement

For program guidelines and to apply for assistance, please visit https://www.utilityassistancepbc.org/ or call 561-355-4792.

Housing Assistance Programs

Palm Beach County’s Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED) announces the availability of funding for the following programs:

HOME Investments Partnership Program – Funding Allocation of $1,800,000:

First Time Homebuyer Program – through August 22, 2022 at 11:59pm (or until 40 applications have been submitted). Funding will assist income eligible first-time homebuyers with gap financing, lot acquisition, down payment, closing costs and/or rehabilitation, to purchase a new or existing home. Applicants are required to attend a Mandatory Orientation prior to application submittal. Register now at https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6869720/HED-HOME

State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program – Funding Allocation of $500,000:

Foreclosure Prevention Program - until all funding is expended. Funding will assist income eligible homeowners who are facing foreclosure due to an unexpected loss of household income.

Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Program – Funding Allocation of $2,100,000:

Mortgage Assistance Program – until all funding is expended. Funding will assist applicants impacted by COVID19, to apply for up to $20,000, in financial assistance to help with paying delinquent first mortgage, escrow payments (PITI), second mortgages, late fees, condominium and homeowners’ association payments, special assessments, and other mortgage associated costs related to COVID-19.

NOTE: Applications must be submitted online, and will be processed on a first submitted, first qualified, first served basis, subject to funding availability on the dates noted above by visiting the website at https://pbcgov.com/HED.

For additional information, please contact:

Palm Beach County Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED)

Mortgage and Housing Investments Division

Telephone: (561) 233-3600

HEDverify@pbcgov.org