Copy
View this email in your browser
APRIL 2020

COVID-19 Update
VIDEO UPDATE
Video Message from Commissioner Weiss:
An update on what the County is doing and the next steps to reopen our community.
VARIOUS HELPFUL RESOURCES

ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT RELIEF

Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments

Here is what you need to know about your Economic Impact Payment. For most taxpayers, payments are automatic, and no further action is needed. This includes taxpayers who filed tax returns in 2018 and 2019 and most seniors and retirees.
Read more here

The Economic Impact Payments promised in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act began rolling out this week. The payments amount to $1,200 for individuals with salaries up to $75,000, and $2,400 for married couples with combined incomes of up to $150,000, plus $500 per dependent under the age of 17. Individuals with salaries less than $99,000 and joint filers less than $198,000 will receive reduced payments.

Check your status here

General info click here


WORK RELATED

As of April 16, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-104, which suspends the biweekly “actively seeking work” reporting requirement by claimants.

CareerSource Palm Beach County has closed its offices to the public until further notice. The organization will continue to provide services online and by email and phone to serve job seekers and employers at this critical time.

If you have lost your job due to the #COVID19 crisis, file a claim through the Reemployment Assistance Program with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Click here.

Career Source: 561.340.1060
https://www.careersourcepbc.com/

Temporary Layoff
An employee that is temporarily laid off from work may be eligible for Reemployment Assistance benefits.
Learn more here

Short Time Compensation
Short-Time Compensation (STC) permits pro-rated Reemployment Assistance (RA) benefits to employees whose work hours and earnings are reduced as part of a STC plan to avoid total layoff of some employees.
Learn more here

Unemployment Insurance Application  
Download the application for unemployment insurance: https://bit.ly/2JJYW0t
Fill it out and mail it to:
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
P.O. Box 5350
Tallahassee, FL 32314-5350


SMALL BUSINESSES

U.S. Chamber Foundation
The U.S. Chamber Foundation launches the Save Small Business Fund with Vistaprint to provide assistance to small business owners impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. With contributions from corporate and philanthropic partners, the Chamber Foundation will distribute $5,000 grants to small employers in the U.S. and its territories.

The Save Small Business Fund is part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Save Small Business Initiative—a nationwide effort to address small business owners’ immediate needs, mitigate closures and job losses, and mobilize the long-term support the small business community needs for recovery.

Grant applications will open on April 20, 2020.

For information on eligibility, grant timeline, and more, visit: 
https://savesmallbusiness.com/


U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

For program questions or assistance in completing the application online, businesses can contact our Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Small Businesses are encouraged to visit Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources Page in preparation for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

Paycheck Protection Program

Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Loan Advance

SBA Debt Relief

Guidance for Businesses and Employers

SBA Products and Resources

Government Contracting

Local Assistance


COMMUNITY SERVICES

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Rent, utilities and other emergency services available.

Apply for utility or rent assistance at www.pbcgov.com/OSCARSS
Visit website at www.pbcgov.org/communityservices  and
click on "Contact Us" to:  Ask how to apply for services
Schedule a callback over-the-phone appointment
Request an application to be sent to you via email or regular mail (a prepaid envelope will be sent with application)

2-1-1 HOTLINE
211 is a helpline and crisis hotline that provides suicide prevention, crisis intervention, information, assessment and referral to community services for people of all ages. 
https://211palmbeach.org/

FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES OR OVER 60 YRS OF AGE
The Coalition for Independent Living Options (CILO) is currently accepting applications for individuals living with disabilities to receive emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities and (for recipients over 60) moving expenses.
Contact Amber Lott at 561-966-4288 Extension 101 for more information: https://www.cilo.org/

SUICIDE PREVENTION 
For resources to help cope during the coronavirus pandemic please follow this link: Suicide Prevention and Covid-19.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
FREE Mental health services provided by the Palm Beach County Youth Services Department’s Residential Treatment and Family Counseling (RTFC) Division are now available to residents of Palm Beach County via Telemental Health.
 
Education & Training Center – psychologists and doctoral trainees offer family therapy, individual therapy, and parent training services through Zoom Video Telemental Health. Bilingual therapists (Spanish & Creole) are available. To schedule an intake appointment, please call 561-233-4460. The Education & Training Center also provides free weekly remote trainings on a variety of mental health topics.
 
Highridge Family Center – currently accepting applications for future residents. Intake appointments and weekly family counseling sessions, in addition to virtual individual therapy and parental support, are ongoing via Telemental Health. To schedule an appointment, please call 561-625-2540.
 
Family Violence Intervention (FVIP) – court diversion program is accepting cases referred from the State Attorney’s Office. FVIP team of master and bachelor-level staff provide case management, case planning, referral advocacy and mediation telehealth services via Zoom Video.
 
Youth and Family Counseling (YFC) – currently providing assessments, family and individual therapy, parent education and school-based behavioral health services via Zoom Video. Telemental Health services are offered in English, Spanish, French and Creole. To schedule an appointment, please call (561) 242-5714.
 
http://discover.pbcgov.org/youthservices/Pages/default.aspx

FOOD PICKUP LOCATIONS

LIST OF FOOD CROPS: DIRECT TO CONSUMER SALES

Below there is a list of known growers or entities that are offering Direct-to-Consumer sales of food crops and nursery crops. The actual food products that are available on any given day are not perfectly predictable or guaranteed.  But the list does show who is doing Direct-to-Consumer sales.
Link to list here

VARIOUS FOOD BANKS AND PANTRIES
Hunger Relief for United Way of PBC has been coordinating food distribution with PBC Food Bank, Feeding South Florida, Area Agency on Aging and approximately 80 food pantries that are still operating throughout the county.
 
The list of all food pantries, food banks and other food entities is included in the link below 
2-1-1 keeps the information updated on a regular basis.
For a summary of food sites: https://211palmbeach.org/emergency-palmbeach
(when you click this link, please scroll down for links to information about Food Sites/Pantry Information/Food Distribution information.)
 
FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA
CALENDAR OF FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS
These sites provide groceries in a "drive-thru" style. 

The list is updated daily, dates, times and locations may change.

APRIL 18, 2020
West Palm Beach PAL  
720 N. Tamarind Avenue            
West Palm Beach, FL 33431             
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

APRIL 20, 2020
City of West Palm Beach             
1751 Palm Lakes Boulevard       
West Palm Beach, FL 33401           
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

For more information visit Feeding South Florida here

SUMMER BREAKSPOT SITES
These sites provide one "grab & go" breakfast and lunch meal to children age 0-18 during each distribution day. They do not provide groceries.

Orange Grove Mobile Park    
2600 6 Avenue S.    
Lake Worth, FL  33641    
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Police Athletic League of West Palm Beach    
720 N. Tamarind Avenue 
West Palm Beach, FL 33401    
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Royal Park Mobile Home    
2781 2 Avenue N.  
Lake Worth, FL  33461  
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Casa del Monte Clubhouse     
6151 Forest Hill Boulevard  
West Palm Beach, FL  33415    
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Boynton Strong Community Outreach and Training    
1050 NW 4 Street    
Boynton Beach, FL  33435  
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

CROS MINISTRIES FOOD PANTRY
CROS Ministries Food Pantries remain open in Lake Worth, Delray Beach, Indiantown, and mobile food pantry locations. These sites are distributing pre-made bags of food during normal hours and days of operation. Sites in Lighthouse, Belle Glades, and West Palm Beach are closed until further notice
https://www.crosministries.org/food-pantries/
 
FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Children and families can access free meals for kids 18 and under at nearly 60 BreakSpot Grab ‘n Go sites around the County. Hunger Relief is working with the School District of Palm Beach County, FLIPANY, Feeding South Florida, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County sites.  Boxes of food from Feeding South Florida are also being distributed at the school sites, one day per week.

For more information about site locations click here. 
Meals are FREE to anyone under 18 years of age (under 22 for ESE students), regardless of financial need. To find a Grab ‘n Go site near you, please visit the website, text Text FLKIDSMEALS to 211-211 or call 2-1-1.

FOR SENIORS
Seniors who are in need of food should contact the Elder Helpline at 866-684-5885. The PBC Senior Centers are still being used as distribution sites and Palm Tran continues to deliver food to the homes of seniors. For seniors who are confused or don't remember that number, they can call 2-1-1 who will direct them.

SCAMS AND PRICE GOUGING

It is illegal for businesses to charge excessive prices for goods or services following a declared state of emergency.

Price gouging is the increases in price due to temporary increases in demand rather than increases in suppliers' costs.

To report an incident call the Florida Attorney General at
1-866-9-NO-SCAM  (1-866-966-7226)

File a complaint: http://myfloridalegal.com/contact.nsf/contact 

Increased Reports of Scammers

There have been increased reports of scammers trying to use the coronavirus to take advantage of people while they’re distracted.

Scams can come in the form of emails, text messages, websites and social media attempts.

Be aware of these types of scams and tactics:

1. Requests for money or personal taxpayer information.

2. Asking you to sign over your economic impact payment check to them.

3. Asking by phone, email, text or social media for verification of personal and/or banking information saying that the information is needed to receive or speed up their economic impact payment.

4. Suggesting that they can get a tax refund or economic impact payment faster by working on your behalf.

5. Mailing you a bogus check, perhaps in an odd amount, and then telling the taxpayer to call a number or verify information online in order to cash it.

Protect your personal information. If someone calls asking for personal information, hang up and contact the agency directly. Check any documents and forms for errors.

SECURE YOUR VEHICLE

Only call 911 in case of Emergency

Do not leave your vehicles unlocked, even if you are inside your home. In these past days, the Sheriff's office has reported an increase of break ins. Do not let your guard down. These are crime of opportunity.

General non-emergency numbers 
Sheriff’s Office: 561-688-3000
http://www.pbso.org/news/corona-virus-information/

City of West Palm Beach Police Department
(561) 822-1200    CITY HOTLINE (561) 822-2222

Village of Palm Springs Police Department
(561) 304-4812

City of Greenacres Police Department
(561) 688-5210

BCC BRIEFS

At a special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on April 14, 2020, the board took the following action:

Homeless shelter – approved a one-year contract with Gulfstream Goodwill Industries, Inc. in the amount of $2.551 million, of which $138,546 will be a one-time advance payment, to provide emergency shelter to homeless individuals living in John Prince Park. The proposed 100 to 125-bed facility near the South Florida Fairgrounds will operate until a new homeless shelter under development in Lake Worth opens. The board approved a budget transfer of $3.229 million from contingency reserves to appropriate funding to Community Services, Facilities Development & Operations, and Parks & Recreation; a budget amendment of $958,736 to establish budget in the capital outlay fund; and nine full-time equivalent positions.

COVID-19 – received an update from Dr. Alina Alonso, director of the Florida Department of Health-Palm Beach County on local efforts to contain community spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19. Dr. Alonso said the infection curve in Palm Beach County is flattening and urged everyone to continue social distancing and staying at home. Through April 13, there were 20,601 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Florida and 470 deaths. Palm Beach County had 1,704 confirmed cases and 88 fatalities. A total of 371 patients have required hospitalization in Palm Beach County. “We are keeping very close track of our hospital ICU capacity,” Dr. Alonso said. “None of our local hospitals are at capacity.” She added that it appears an emergency field hospital set up at the fairgrounds may not be needed.

Bonds – discussed whether to go forward with placing two bond referendums to fund environmental and housing projects on the November ballot. In light of the extreme disruptions and economic uncertainty posed by the COVID-19 outbreak as well as heavy demands on staff, board members agreed to withdraw both bond proposals and to revisit in the 2022 election cycle.

Tellus Products – approved on first reading and to advertise for public hearing on May 5 an ad valorem tax exemption in an amount not to exceed $850,000 over a 10-year period for Tellus Products, LLC. The Belle Glade company has met its obligation to make a minimum $40 million capital investment, create 71 new jobs over a five-year period at an annualized average wage of $50,000, and maintain those new jobs for five years. The project’s estimated economic impact over a five-year period is $162 million.

In Memoriam – recognized the recent passing of Ron Jarriel, a retired Palm Beach County firefighter and who served on the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council and Water Control District Board of Supervisors, and Broward County State Rep. Kristin Jacobs, an environmental advocate who helped establish the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.

TARPON COVE
Short video from last year’s tagging effort with FWC biologists   

Tarpon Cove is Palm Beach County’s newest habitat creation project in Lake Worth Lagoon (LWL), the county’s largest estuary.  Tarpon Cove began as just an idea back in 2017 and has since blossomed into not only incredible new habitat, but a shining example of what can be done with broad partnerships between municipalities, local governments, state agencies, the federal government, businesses and the community.  Thus far, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Department of Environmental Protection have helped the county secure $3.8 million in state and federal funding for the project, and the Rybovich Superyacht Marina, Town of Palm Beach and The Florida Inland Navigation District have collectively donated $11 million worth of clean sand for the restoration work. 


The Tarpon Cove restoration project will ultimately create over 45 acres of habitat that will include five mangrove islands in addition to seagrass and oyster reef, providing long term wildlife and water quality benefits within LWL. The construction process builds marine habitat by filling existing dredge holes (biological “dead zones”), raising the lagoon floor elevation to create a shallow, sun-drenched bottom surface for seagrass recruitment.  The newly created islands encourage the recruitment of oysters and mangroves, both critical species that improve water quality and overall health benefits for the LWL ecosystem. In addition to the formation of valuable marine habitat, the finished project offers a natural shoreline barrier or breakwater along an extensive concrete sea walled section of the lagoon, helping to protect critical infrastructure.
 

Construction has been completed on two of the five islands, with construction of two more islands slated to begin in June of this year receiving sand from the Town of Palm Beach Dock expansion.  On March 5th, once construction of the first two islands was complete, the sandy shores of Tarpon Cove became green with the help of nearly 100 volunteers from the El Cid community, the West Palm Beach Fishing Club, Lagoon Keepers, Palm Beach Day Academy, Conservation Conservatory School, MANG Gear, Lake Worth Waterkeepers, and FWC who planted 2,500 mangroves and 4,000 cordgrass plants. A second volunteer planting event will be scheduled for later this year.  The cherry on top of this success story is that for a second year in a row, American oystercatchers (an incredible bird that has become the face of LWL restoration) have begun nesting on the newly created islands.   

RESPOND TO THE CENSUS

We need you now more than ever!

Our State, country and the entire world is suffering due to this horrific pandemic. Our lives have been affected very drastically. Cities, counties and states cannot do it alone, the Federal government  is stepping in to support our needs and they are doing it based on population count.  They will pull the numbers from the 2010 Census and determine how much money each affected county and city need. 

The numbers collected from the 2020 Census will be used for the next 10 years. We need a complete count of our entire population so we can serve each one appropriately! 

Palm Beach County residents should have received their invitation to complete the 2020 Census questionnaire. All residents are urged to complete the questionnaire as soon as they can.
 
It's fast, safe, secure, and confidential. Information and privacy are protected.

Responding to the Census helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services.

Results from the 2020 Census will be used to determine the number of seats each state has in Congress and political representation at all levels of government. You Count In Palm Beach County!


Respond to the 2020 Census online here.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS

Questions related to the coronavirus?
Call the Florida Department of Health's Coronavirus Call Center at 1-866-779-6121 which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week or  email COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

Also visit http://pbchd.org for the latest health information. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For the latest information and updates from Palm Beach County, visit http://pbcgov.com/coronavirus.

Executive Orders link here

Have any ideas, suggestions, concerns?

Contact Us!

We are here to help you!
Administrative Assistants to Commissioner Gregg K. Weiss:

Niels Heimeriks
Constituent Issues
NHeimeriks@pbcgov.org

Office: 561-355-4966   Cell: 561-371-1089

Virginia Savietto 
Constituent Issues
VSavietto@pbcgov.org

Office: 561-355-2209   Cell: 561-324-9621

Paul Razza 
Scheduling & Constituent Issues
PRazza@pbcgov.org

Office: 561-355-2202  

Website: www.pbcgov.com/D2
Email us as a group: district2@pbcgov.org


Contact PBC Commissioner Gregg Weiss, District 2 at:
301 N. Olive Avenue, 12th Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Tel: 561-355-2202
Email: district2@pbcgov.org
Website: www.pbcgov.com/D2
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @CountyCommissionerGreggWeiss
Twitter: @GreggPBC

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.