Feb 9, 2021 11:02 AM DeLand, FL - Volusia County’s Environmental Management Division is asking residents to complete a resilience survey to get their opinions on ways to address sea-level rise. The division is working on an initiative that will develop strategies to help residents and local government officials plan for the impacts of flooding, storm surge, and sea-level rise. The deadline to complete the survey is February 28, 2021. The link to the survey can be found at metroquestsurvey.com. Survey takers will be asked to rank their values, rate strategies, and identify where public resources should be focused to increase community resilience. County staff will use the responses to identify resilience measures for consideration. Information gathered in the survey will help determine the best ways for individuals, communities, institutions, and businesses to plan, sustain, adapt, recover, improve and grow collaboratively from specific events like flooding, a heatwave,
District 1
Gigi Simmons
Simmons hails from the historic African-American community of Porters, located between downtown Gainesville and the University of Florida. Elected to the city commission in 2018, Simmons serves on the Library Governing Board, the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council and the Alachua County League of Cities.
Speaking in a recently released campaign video, Simmons tells Gainesville residents, “I want you all to know that your voice and your vote matter. Together, we’re stronger; together, we can make a difference.”
In 2018, Simmons defeated Charles Goston by recieving 59.97% of the District 1 vote. If reelected, Simmons would break a nine-year streak of single-term commissioners in District 1. Scherwin Henry was the last commissioner in that district to earn approval from voters to serve two terms, from 2006 to 2012.
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The EDA Regional office of Atlanta awarded an Opportunity Zone grant to Walterboro on Apr. 2, 2020 with a total project amount of $19,590,000 from the US Economic Development Administration.
The U.S. Economic Development Administration offered the following description of this project: This EDA investment funds renovations of the city s wastewater treatment plant by supporting the expansion of infrastructure for an employer in Walterboro County, South Carolina, a designated Opportunity Zone. The expansion will provide long-term benefits to the local economy in the event of future disasters, providing the region with opportunities to diversify the economy through the attraction of foreign direct investments, and expanding the business of local industries. In addition, the project will create economic resiliency by strengthening the regional economy, supporting private investments, and creating jobs throughout the region.
Former Brevard commissioner, ‘waterways activist’ Ron Pritchard dies
Pritchard remembered as ‘force of civic pride and activism for Brevard County’
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The sunset above the Indian River in Merritt Island. (Image credit: John Speck) (WKMG 2020)
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Former District 2 Brevard County commissioner Ron Pritchard has died, according to a news release.
Pritchard’s death was first announced earlier this week during a Brevard County Commissioners meeting by District 4 Commissioner Curt Smith, who remembered Pritchard as a “waterways activist.”
“I have known Ron for 20 years or more. He was a force of civic pride and activism for Brevard County in general and specifically regarding water and boating issues,” Smith said. “Because of his efforts both as a Commissioner and as a private citizen, his presence will be greatly missed.”
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The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and five other regional planning councils around Florida will receive a total of $1,499,000 from the state to develop a cohesive statewide approach to flood planning. The three-year project will provide a framework for municipalities across Florida to create disaster models, prepare actionable strategies and determine how to prioritize and fund mitigation projects.
The funding for the project is part of nearly $20 million in resiliency funding awarded by Florida s Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to 37 municipalities, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations around the state.
The Regional Planning Councils will share information and build templates for municipalities around the state to use in developing mapping, models and mitigation plans to address flooding challenges in their respective areas.