Page 7 - Jupiter Ocean Mile - February '22

Jupiter Ocean Mile, Page 7
Commissioner’s Update

Strategic Planning To Provide Natural resources, beaches, parks facilities and The county’s Department of Housing and Economic
Development works with businesses to help them
recreational areas contribute greatly to our health and
Essential Services quality of life, and create positive outdoor experiences leverage financing for construction and working capital
for residents and visitors. The county completed 18 through federal low-interest loan programs. They also
By Commissioner Maria improvement projects in targeted revitalization areas, contract with technical assistance providers who offer
Marino including community gardens, neighborhood parks, one-on-one help to entrepreneurs. The Office of Small
Planning programs and and traffic calming and pedestrian safety features. The Business Assistance performs outreach to help small
projects for the highest county’s park acres-to-resident ratio is 1 acre of park businesses become certified, and expand their capacity
and best use of your tax property to 184 residents. to participate in government procurement opportunities.
dollars requires cross- To promote sustainable and resilient practices, Supporting economic development also requires
collaboration of county the county is incorporating policies in our capital revitalization of neighborhoods through community
departments. This approach improvement projects, has established a master plan to improvements. This includes access to parks, road
prevents operating in silos, increase tree canopy in parks, has invested in solar power resurfacing, streetlights and sidewalks.
which can undermine the initiatives, and is replacing old ballfield lighting with As the nation’s leader in sugarcane and fresh sweet
vision of an organization LED lights. corn production, and Florida’s leader in growing sweet
and create inefficiencies. Efforts will continue to support these goals, develop peppers, lettuce, specialty leaf, rice, radishes, cucumbers,
Working with County Administration and the Strategic overall waste reduction strategies, and expand partnerships celery, eggplant, herbs and sod, Palm Beach County
Planning and Performance Management Division of the with local stakeholders. supports a viable and diverse agricultural industry.
Office of Financial Management and Budget, the County Economic Development Through educational workshops and training events,
Commission has adopted six strategic priorities for the The environmental amenities and parks in our the county has assisted thousands of farmers, nursery
county. These priorities include economic development, county are some of the quality-of-life features that draw growers, landscapers and residents to preserve and
housing and homelessness, environmental protection, businesses to our community. The top four industries by enhance agriculture, encourage workforce safety, practice
infrastructure, public safety, and substance abuse and employment are professional and business services, trade/ Florida-friendly landscaping, and create more community
behavior disorders. Cross-departmental teams over the transportation/utilities, education and health services, gardens.
past two years have tackled each of the six priorities and, leisure and hospitality. Palm Beach County has Student apprentice programs help meet local needs and
through establishment of goals and performance earned the title of “Wall Street South,” having drawn provide our young workforce with valuable experience.
measurement tracking the completion of projects. Here more than 30 corporate relocations or expansions during Opportunities are available in the departments of Water
is a recap of progress by two of the priority teams. this two-year period. More than 70 percent of those Utilities, Youth Services, Parks & Recreation, the
Environmental Protection companies are from other states, predominantly New York Building Division, and Fire Rescue.
Efforts to sustain our healthy beaches included and California. This has resulted in the creation of more I hope this gives you some insight on how county
replacement of 2.1 million cubic yards of sand; regulatory than 2,500 jobs and $150 million of capital investments. departments work together to give you the “best bang for
sea turtle nest lighting inspections; the monitoring of To promote economic revitalization and support the your buck.” Please contact me at (561) 355-2201 or by
fecal coliform bacteria levels at county beach parks; and, creation of diverse job opportunities, the county’s cross- email at mmarino@pbcgov.org, and let me know how I
improved educational signage. departmental team takes advantage of grant opportunities can help you.
To maintain our diverse ecosystems, the county, utilizing and programs at the state and federal levels, with an
a large complement of volunteers, stays on top of eliminating emphasis on business development in distressed census tract
invasive/exotic vegetation coverage in our natural areas, areas, including Opportunity Zones. We are consistently
and continuously advocates for state and federal support evaluating systems to make it easier to do business in Palm
for infrastructure that will reduce harmful discharges Beach County, with expedited permit review in our Building
to the Lake Worth Lagoon, our delicate estuaries, and Division and construction of infrastructure improvements.
water resources. The Water Utilities Department regularly Further, the county coordinates efforts by stakeholders in
inspects private and public facilities for compliance with the Biotech Industry Cluster to develop wet lab space,
wellfield protection and petroleum tank regulations. incubators, and a teaching hospital.
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