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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #838 |
| Completion of Phase II Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) Connections |
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| Requester: |
Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners |
Organization: |
Economic Development Office |
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| Project Title: |
Completion of Phase II Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) Connections |
Date Submitted |
1/4/2008 1:10:59 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Aronberg |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| This project will generate economic development, commercial revitalization, eco-tourism dollars, enhance the quality of life amenities for state residents and increase tax revenues for the distressed communities in the Lake region of Palm Beach County. The increase in private investment will create entrepreneurial/job opportunities for the Cities of Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay and the surrounding unincorporated areas all of which are part of the Florida Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative (FHREDI). These cities were designated as "Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern by the Governor, pursuant to Chapter 288.0656 |
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| Recipient: |
Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners |
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Contact: |
Kevin Johns/Pamela L. Nolan |
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301 N. Olive Avenue |
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Contact Phone: |
(561) 355-3524 |
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West Palm Beach 33401 |
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Contact email: |
pnolan@pbcgov.com |
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| Counties: |
Palm Beach |
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| Gov't Entity: |
Yes |
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
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| Project Description: |
| The Phase I appropriation for economic development related to the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) funded three major trailheads and community gateways, all scheduled for completion by September 2008, and leveraged nearly one million dollars to build several bicycle/pedestrian paths connecting downtowns to LOST. The completed facilities, including campsites, cabins, restaurants, bike rentals, amphitheaters and educational displays, provide the first rung of tourism infrastructure. The Phase II appropriation will take this effort to the next level by developing/implementing tourism strategies/activities which have successfully increased demand in other parts of the Southeast and stimulating/expanding tourism-related downtown and trailhead business development in a way that supports multi-day stays by Trail visitors, thus sustaining economic development and community revitalization. To meet this goal, this appropriation will be used to:
� Develop and implement a Tourism Development Plan featuring practical strategies and activities to diversify and increase demand for the LOST in collaboration with trailhead managers, area businesses and communities, and other interests such as Florida�s Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative, including promotion and event planning,
� Collaborate with the Lake Okeechobee Regional Economic Alliance of Palm Beach County, Inc., the EDGE Center small business incubator, Palm Beach Community College, Tourist Development Council and the Workforce Alliance to make the Lake communities more attractive to visitors by growing needed tourism businesses (such as inns, restaurants, jazz clubs, and bicycle shops), identifying prime tourism business opportunity areas such as trailheads and connectors, and developing a pilot training program to meet interested employers� workforce needs,
� Design and Enhance remaining bicycle/pedestrian connectors from the LOST to the communities, with signs, benches, bike racks, landscaping and lighting, and
� Develop a waterfront access plan with recommended code revisions, incentives, and roles of partner agencies such as South Florida Water Management District, to encourage development of water-related businesses along downtown waterways such as the Hillsboro and West Palm Beach Canals.
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| One event that attracts thousands of tourists to the LOST, One block of businesses physically oriented to the waterway, enhancement of 4 bicycle/pedestrian connectors from the downtowns to the scenic trail, 20% increase of tourists visiting the area, and a 15% increase in the number of tourist businesses and jobs being created. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$1,610 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$4,073,600 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local |
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Cash Amount |
$2,463,600 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
PBC Comp Plan, Glades Regional Business Plan (2002), Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern, Touri |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
