Comment Up
August 4, 2015
Contact: Michael Bornstein, City Manager
Dolores Key, Economic Development Manager
Phone: 561.586.1630
Lake Worth in Line to Receive Grant from US Economic Development Administration
The City of Lake Worth has received a “further consideration” letter from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA) indicating the city’s grant funding application for the Lake Worth Park of Commerce Infrastructure Improvements was selected through EDA’s competitive application review process for further consideration for funding. Subject to the US Congress appropriation and availability of funds for FY 2016, Lake Worth is slated to receive $1,389,100 in EDA funding under the Public Works program, as authorized under section 201 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. Moreover, there is additional documentation that the City must provide by September 4, 2015 in order to receive the funds.
“This has truly been a team effort,” according to Michael Bornstein, City Manager. “It is a project that involved all departments of the City – from the planning to water/sewer, from electric to roads, engineering to landscape – every department has been impacted in some way.”
The collaboration extended outside of Lake Worth, too. Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council included the Lake Worth Park of Commerce in the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the region – a necessary component for the project. The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County & the Economic Council of Palm Beach County authored support letters detailing the importance of the Park.
But the biggest is the strategic alliance is with Palm Beach County – specifically the Department of Economic Sustainability. Without their expertise and guidance in grant writing along with the approval by the County Commissioners making Palm Beach County a co-applicant for the EDA grant, the Park of Commerce would not have been as competitive.
“It is all about fostering and building relationships in order to improve the City of Lake Worth,” says Mayor Pam Triolo. “That notwithstanding, the biggest winners are the citizens – adding over 300 jobs with an economic impact of $183.7million – that is great news for us all. I am grateful to the entire team that has brought us to this point.”
11 comments:
A job well done by our City Manager, his directors, and the commission. This is how local government should work - going after grants to reduce the tax burden on the community in order to bring business and tax dollars into our city. This commission gets it - you have to play nicely with others (other cities and officials) in order to garner their support for Lake Worth's needs. Congratulations Lake Worth!
Thanks for the comment above at 1:20...lots of wisdom there. But, they also need to play "nicely' with the residents of this city. They seem to forget that.
"...grants to reduce the tax burden"
Really - who do you think provides this money?
It's ALL TAX MONEY - are you seriously believing this chit?
300 jobs will be created? What happened to the 4,000 jobs number quoted by the Mayor in her T.V. press conference temper tantrum rant after they didn't get the money that they had all already spent?
If the City can get grant money, that does lessen the burden on resident tax payers. Yes its all tax money, but if its State or County grant money, we are paying significantly less in taxes for that return.
The City should absolutely go after grant money, and I applaud the effort. However, the City should also pay attention to what residents want and don't want in our City.
I hope that they get the grant which will mean a slight reprieve from the Lake Worth taxpayer to fund their field of dreams. I think.
Nobody is against the concept of the Park of Commerce. We just don't want to pay for it. The grants are the way to go.
Baby steps... I applaud the current commission and Mayor for sticking with the mission in Tallahassee and Washington to get more dollars to LW. These funds help us build infrastructure while creating jobs... Which all makes LW more attractive to business ventures to relocate to LW - which in turn, will create more jobs and economic stability.
All the naysayers just don't know how to eat an elephant... One bite at a time... So baby steps is how we start, Thea's not hard to understand, unless your just an obstructionist.
I noticed all those BABY STEPS when this commission went out on a General Obligation Bond to grab $64 million dollars of your money for 34 years. I would say that idea was one gigantic elephant step and it definitely was one big bite.
So, who's the obstructionist? Who are the commissioners just after taxpayer money to do whatever they want? And congratulations for writing the Grant correctly this time. Good show.
Grant Grant Grant - carries no pre-nup but many strings attached!
Wait till ya try to 'divorce' Grant and see how the strings strangle you!
What part of Taxpayer Money is ALL IN THE SAME WALLET don't ya get? Are you that naive
thinking someone else pays? Someone else is YOU! Good God get a grip people and follow the money and find the truth! It's all about Power Control & Inventory! A limited Gov should return the surplus to the people instead of wrapping it up in crap, pretending they are Santa giving gifts - like a venereal disease it's the gift that will keep on giving till our grandchildren will be financially raped and owe it all to ....wait for it...Grant!
Lynn can you post the debt clock and explain that this number DOES NOT INCLUDE
Unfunded Liabilities like Gov Retirements people plan on receiving!
So glad to see this grant come thru, there is a light on the horizon. LW can be great again as we draw businesses here and the jobs they bring. Nicely done!
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