- April 29, 2024
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Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $4 million to Flagler County on Feb. 2, part of a $223 million effort to expand broadband internet access to all Floridians.
The $4 million will go towards Flagler County's future “Nexus Center” – a multi-purpose facility to house both a new library and the county’s Health and Human Services Department, a Flagler County press release said. The county qualified for the funding through a grant in the state's multipurpose facility program designed to support community infrastructure projects.
“We are thrilled by this announcement,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. “This is huge for Flagler County. We are extremely grateful to have been awarded this money by Governor DeSantis.”
During the Flagler County Commission meeting on Feb. 5, Petito said Chief of Special Projects and Library Director Holly Albanese took the initiative to apply for the grant in June.
Albanese has been applying for grant money for the Nexus Center for several years. The project is estimated to cost around $16 million in January 2022.
The facility will provide space for an expanded Bunnell Branch Library, the Health and Human Services Department, a congregate meal site for seniors, and community rooms, the press release said. The building will sit on county-owned property on Commerce Parkway near the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office headquarters.
“We revised the scope of the project from just a library to a library, a Health and Human Services Department, and a community room,” Albanese said. “It appears that was a good decision because it made us eligible for these funds. This announcement made my day. It’s a big win for our community.”
Flagler County has earmarked $9.6 million earmarked for this project, alongside another $1 million in revenue from the library’s passport program, the press release said. The county also secured a $500,000 state grant last year to go toward the new facility.
