Palm Beach County - From the desk of Commissioner Steven L. Abrams

"As your county commissioner, economic growth and stimulus will continue to be an important focus for 2011. 

It has been reported that in the past six months, numerous industries experienced job growth in the County: private education and health services category (+ 2,400 jobs); retail trade (+2,200); leisure and hospitality (+2,100); and professional & business services (+1,600).  Additional reports have indicated that the average weekly wages in Palm Beach County have risen by 2.5% from the second quarter of 2009 to the second quarter of 2010. 

But until full economic prosperity returns to Palm Beach County, we will continue our efforts to create job opportunities.  This means pursuing a strategy to leverage both private and public resources.

The county has and will continue to provide incentives and assistance to existing local businesses in their efforts to expand, grow and create new jobs.  Some of these incentives include low interest loans and local matching funds in conjunction with state grants. 

Over the past year, we used matching incentive funds to retain and create jobs for companies large and small, including Office Depot, UTC Fire and Security, and National Healing Corp., to name a few.  The City of Boca Raton has provided matching dollars as well.  While I am pleased to say that these companies are based in my district, their workforces draw from all over Palm Beach County.

Once we land a company, or a company decides to expand, the County Commission has adopted “fast-track” permitting to ensure that companies creating 30 or more jobs get up and running quickly.  Many of the cities in my district have also adopted this model so companies can cut through the red tape.

I have supported major economic development projects throughout the county, such as the Inland Port in the Glades area and the Wellington Medical District.  Even in a dreary residential market, south county will be the location of the first new planned condominium in the county since the recession began--The Palm Beach Post says it may be the first new condo in the entire southeast United States.

We will also continue to leverage public dollars for local infrastructure projects that meet community needs.  Some examples include hiring local companies to add guardrails to roads next to canals and resurface the dangerous patches on I-95. 

In the end, the best job creation plan is to hold the line on taxes and reduce government spending.  Higher taxes prolong a sluggish economy, and putting more money in people’s pockets will help us to get us out of it.  As your County Commissioner, I remain committed to leaving no stone unturned to restore economic growth to our county so we can all truly have a happy, prosperous new year. 

Please contact me if I can be of assistance or if you have any comments and/or suggestions.  I can be contacted at sabrams@pbcgov.org or at my office at 561-355-2204 (West Palm Beach) or 561-276-1220 (Delray Beach). 

Also, please visit my Web site athttp://www.pbcgov.com/countycommissioners/district4/ for updates and links to county divisions and other governmental agencies."