County inks small business contracts; considering FAU economic
study
Published Tuesday, October 2, 2007
by By John Johnston
County commissioners have approved separate one-year agreements
to aid small business in Palm Beach County.
• A one-year, $94,000 contract with the Florida Atlantic
University (FAU) Small Business Development Center to provide technical
assistance and training to qualified small business enterprise firms.
• A one-year, $96,800 grant agreement with the Palm Beach
County Resource Center to provide funding for activities and services
to develop and assist small businesses.
Commissioners will also consider today a $149,243 contract with
Florida Atlantic University to establish measurable benchmark performance
standards, assess businesses and citizens input, and conduct a research
on the fiscal effects of the Palm Beach County Strategic Economic
Development Plan on local and county governments. (See a separate
general story about that plan on Page One of this edition.)
Children’s Theater
Separately, commissioners approved a $10,000 agreement with the
Delray Beach Playhouse to help offset costs of a children’s
musical production at the playhouse in July.
Commissioners said approximately 100 participants took part in
the production, which was in turn seen by an audience of approximately
2,000. Funding is from District 4 Recreation Assistance Program
(RAP) funds.
Other Business
In other recent business commissioners:
• Approved final action on a 2003 agreement with Belvedere
Military Corporation (BMC). In 2003, the county entered into an
agreement to sell 8.5 acres at the northeast corner of Belvedere
Road and Military Trail to BMC. This property was later incorporated
into the Wal-Mart commercial shopping center. The sales agreement
required BMC to replat the entire project, including a small portion
of the project which is still owned by the county.
• Cancelled a lease agreement with Habitat for Humanity Palm
Beach County, Inc. and Truth, Responsibility, Unity, Training, Hope
& Success, Inc. (TRUTH). The organization had been leasing .33
acres of land located at 1031 and 1033 State Street, West Palm Beach
for the operation of its 4-H Youth Community Garden Program, said
commissioners. TRUTH was dissolved on September 16, 2005, and has
not participated in the community garden since then.
• Approved a utility easement agreement in favor of BellSouth
Telecommunications, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Florida (BellSouth) for
telephone and data lines providing communication service for the
Parks & Recreation Department’s Administration Building
at John Prince Memorial Park.
• Approved utility easement agreements in favor of the City
of Lake Worth to provide electrical service and water service to
the Parks & Recreation Department’s Administration Building
at John Prince Memorial Park; and also to the Club Managers Association
of America Therapeutic Recreation Complex at the park; and also
to AT&T Florida (BellSouth) for communications service at the
Club Managers complex.
• Approved a utility easement agreement in favor of Florida
Power and Light Company (FPL), for underground electrical service
for Parcel A at the South County Regional Park. The county is constructing
an amphitheater and golf course on Parcel A of the South County
Regional Park, said commissioners; approved a service agreement
with the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) to provide drainage
services in connection with the same development.
John Johnston can be reached at 561-549-0833, or at jjohnston@bocanews.com
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