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A Word From the Executive Director
West Florida Regional Planning Council is approaching the new year in full swing. Wrapping up many large-scale projects, we move forward with several new projects underway and countless opportunities ahead.
We have partnered with additional municipalities this year, continuing our quest of meeting the needs of our cities, towns, and counties while identifying collaborative opportunities across the region. Our seasoned staff continues to grow, as does our expertise to meet the diverse needs of those we serve. We eagerly anticipate an especially fruitful 2018, largely due to the strong relationships we have developed with our friends and neighbors in West Florida.
As always, if you are interested in having a representative give a presentation to your organization, or explore ways in which we might help you in your current and future endeavors, feel free to call and we will be happy to assist you!
Recent WFRPC Activities
West Florida Regional Planning Council had a very busy and productive 2017 and is entering 2018 with the expectation of achieving even greater things in northwest Florida. Below are just a few of the recent, current, and upcoming happenings:
WFRPC presented the draft 2018-2022 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for public comment in November. The CEDS is a 5-year strategy to guide activity and investment to support economic growth in the WFRPC region (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, and Bay counties), which is designated as an Economic Development District by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The CEDS is the result of a data-driven and participatory planning process that invites stakeholders to bring forward new project ideas and identify economic development ventures currently underway that merit ongoing community support. The CEDS is monitored annually to track implementation of the action plan and its outcomes. Please direct any public comment or questions regarding the CEDS to caitlin.cerame@wfrpc.org by Dec. 29, 2017.
WFRPC transportation staff hosted public workshops in Pensacola to discuss and solicit public input for the addition of the West Cervantes Street road diet, or reduction from four lanes to two lanes, from Green Street to A Street, to the Long Range Transportation (LRTP) Needs Plan. Staff hosted Pedestrian/Bicycle Advocacy Working Group Workshops to further the work being done on the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization Pedestrian/Bicycle Plan as well as Technical Advisory and community workshops for the Detroit Boulevard / Johnson Avenue Corridor Management Plan. Additionally, staff hosted public workshops in Crestview and Santa Rosa Beach to discuss and solicit public input for the addition of a U.S. Highway 98 at County Road 30A East pedestrian underpass, a U.S. Highway 98 at U.S. Highway 331 flyover interchange, and an eastern Crestview bypass to the Long Range Transportation (LRTP) Needs Plan. Staff hosted a community workshop in Fort Walton Beach for the Beal Parkway Corridor Management Plan.
Community and Economic Development staff hosted meetings throughout the region for Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC), Bay Area Resource Council (BARC), and many other programs.
Pictured above is WFRPC Planner, Jill Lavender, presenting the Transportation Planning Organization to the future leaders selected to participate in Destin Forward on Dec. 7 in Niceville.
WFRPC presented the draft 2018-2022 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for public comment in November. The CEDS is a 5-year strategy to guide activity and investment to support economic growth in the WFRPC region (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, and Bay counties), which is designated as an Economic Development District by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The CEDS is the result of a data-driven and participatory planning process that invites stakeholders to bring forward new project ideas and identify economic development ventures currently underway that merit ongoing community support. The CEDS is monitored annually to track implementation of the action plan and its outcomes. Please direct any public comment or questions regarding the CEDS to caitlin.cerame@wfrpc.org by Dec. 29, 2017.
ver interchange, and an eastern Crestview bypass to the Long Range Transportation (LRTP) Needs Plan. Staff hosted a community workshop in Fort Walton Beach for the Beal Parkway Corridor Management Plan.
