Community Outreach

Proposed Plan
Community Outreach
Proposed Plan

Input from community partners, local organizations, businesses and residents is vital in defining the plans needed to develop an economic strategy and disaster resiliency plan for the City. Community conversations were held engaging the residents and local business owners to identify assets and challenges as they look to the future of Fort Meade.

Community Conversations Held:

  • Presentations to the Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society and Neighborhood Project, Central Florida Development Council Stakeholders
  • Community Workshop (October 29, 2019)
  • Community Partners' Meeting (February 20, 2020)

During the period of community engagement, participants were tasked in providing information on what is unique to the City of Fort Meade, what assets are economic opportunities for the City and what challenges exist that are impediments to the overall quality of life for the City. These conversations are summarized below.

 

Who is Fort Meade?

The word cloud below reflects how the residents and stakeholders describe the City of Fort Meade.

Fort Meade word cloud: Eager to Serve, Friendly, small-town, historic, quaint, welcoming, future ready.

Assets and Challenges

The community identified the following community assets, challenges and pathways to greater opportunities.

Education

Regarding Education the community identified community support as the top asset at 37 percent and extracurricular activities as a challenge at 29 percent. Participants provided additional comments in the other section that included the need for special need programing and teacher retention and funding.

Education – Ideas

The community provided the following ideas to improve and build upon the City’s education opportunities.

  • Encourage Community and Business Involvement in Schools
  • Encourage Community Partnerships with Higher Education
  • Provide Teacher Incentives
  • Link Youth Council to Local Government
  • Encourage Private Investment
  • Promote Agricultural Industry
  • Provide Internship Programs
  • Bring Vocational Training to schools
  • Provide Career Fairs in Fort Meade

Health & Well Being

For Health and Well Being, 37 percent viewed access to good medical care as an asset however they would like more options to choose from with 29 percent stating that there is a challenge with healthcare options.

Health and Well Being – Ideas

The community provided the following ideas to improve and build upon the City’s Health and Well Being opportunities.

  • Provide Parks to serve Different Age Groups
  • Include Programs Linking Generations – quilting, etc.
  • Provide Programs for Special Needs Community
  • Provide an Addiction Clinic
  • Provide Health Education – Disease Prevention
  • Promote Fitness Use of the Trails
  • Provide Fitness Centers and Classes
  • Provide Splash Pad

Economic Stability

Thirty-three percent of the participants saw the value in labor jobs for the economy of Fort Meade. Thirty-seven percent identified that a challenge for Fort Meade are existing hurdles for small businesses and 31 percent of participants felt that there is not enough opportunity to grow and develop in Fort Meade.

Economic Stability – Ideas

The community provided the following ideas to improve and build upon the economic stability of the city.

  • Keep Fort Meade Visible & Business Friendly
  • Provide Small Business Incubator & Training
  • Include Local Businesses School Job Fairs
  • Via private sector, expose young entrepreneurs to what it takes to start a business
  • Be willing to bring New Businesses to City
  • Remove Business Development Hurdles
  • Provide Training for Entrepreneurs & Existing Businesses (online advertising/disaster plan)
  • Patronize Local Businesses & Shop local Saturday

Mobility

Citrus Connection the available public transportation for the city was seen by 46 percent of the participants as an asset for mobility. While 46 percent of the participants saw the lack of transportation options as a huge challenge for the area, followed by road maintenance at 36 percent.

Mobility – Ideas

The community provided the following ideas to improve and build upon the mobility of the city.

  • Increase Public Transportation
  • Increase Transportation Options
  • Encourage Public/Private partnerships – i.e. Uber, Lyft
  • Provide a Bike Share Program
  • Dedicate More Funding for Transportation

Housing Stability

The city’s available land was seen as an asset by 50 percent of the participants. As for challenges lack of multi-family housing options received 40 percent with participants wanting to see more affordable housing options.

Housing Stability – Ideas

The community provided the following ideas to improve housing stability within the city..

  • Provide More Code Enforcement
  • Promote Living in Fort Meade
  • Partner with Polk County Builders Assoc. – bring homes up to Code
  • Clear, Concise Process for New Development
  • Provide Home Repair for the Elderly through Community Partnerships
  • Need New Subdivisions
  • Need Apartment Complexes
  • Need more Affordable housing

Overall, the community identified the following as the greatest assets and challenges for the City of Fort Meade.

What are Fort Meade's Greatest Assets?

  • Small Town Community
  • Our Youth & Elderly
  • Education System
  • Location
  • Patterson Park
  • Land Opportunities
  • Peace River

What are Fort Meade's Greatest Challenges?

  • Limited Economic Opportunities – transportation, housing, infrastructure capacity and maintenance
  • Retaining Young Workforce
  • Opportunities to Engage Youth
  • Funding for Upkeep of Parks, Roads
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Healthcare Services

Asset Mapping Exercise

On April 16, 2020, representatives from state and regional agencies partnered with community leaders to review the assets of the Fort Meade area.  Participants discussed potential opportunities to expand upon the assets in ways that may further economic and community development.  The proposed ideas became strategies and goals in this economic development and disaster resiliency plan.

Housing Stability – Ideas

The table below summarizes the assets and action steps going forward.

AssetIdeaInformation
1.     US 98 and US 17Partner with State agencies on projects that will improve traffic flow, maintenance, and provide opportunities for broadband expansion.

- US 98 and US 17 intersection improvements are part of the Downtown Vision Plan which can be shared with FDOT.

 

- Polk County has established the 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan which includes a “dig once” component policy that requires public and private excavators to coordinate with local government on the installation of extra fiber or conduit whenever ground will be broken in the public right-of-way.   Providing a ready-made conduit, installed during construction processes, in support of future expansion substantially reduces the costs of fiber installation.

 

- The City may partner with FDOT to implement “dig once” as drainage projects are implemented.

 

- The M-CORES Program is working to implement “dig once”.

 

- Signal upgrades such as US 98 and SR 17 should link up with Lakeland and Winter Haven in support of expanded fiber/broadband.

 

- The City is awaiting completion of its Stormwater Master Plan which identifies several areas for flooding as well as downtown areas in need of improved infrastructure.

 

2.     Small BusinessesProvide resources to small business owners to help expand their business and reach more customers.

- An inventory of the web capability/web presence (beyond social media) of local businesses could assist with identifying needs and potential grant opportunities, especially from the U S Department of Agriculture (USDA).

 

- A digital welcome sign could be used to spotlight and network small businesses.

 

- Sylvia Robinson with USDA has information regarding small business incubator assistance.

 

- Fort Meade has had a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) since 2011.  It has accumulated approximately $40,000 in tax increment.  While not many improvements have been implemented, the upcoming fiscal year has earmarked some of the funds for capital improvements.  The CRA represents almost two-thirds of the city limits

 

- USDA’s Rural Business Development Grants have no match requirement and could be used to facilitate rural small business.

3.     Healthcare ClinicExpand healthcare services to provide residents with more options to choose from.

- There are no hospitals located in Fort Meade.  The closest hospitals are located 12 to 15 miles away.  Fort Meade Community Health Care Inc. is a non-profit responsible for the establishment of the one local medical clinic.

 

- Fort Meade’s elderly population would benefit greatly from improvements to local health care.  Lorenzo McCutchen’s Fort Meade Neighborhood Development Project, a registered 501(C)3, could assist with partnering and applying for grants.

 

- USDA’s Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant program can assist the local non-profit with establishing/supporting healthcare services (renovations, transportation, construction, etc.).

4.     Historic DowntownShowcase Fort Meade’s history through events and identification of historical structures in the city.

- State Representative Melony Bell (former Fort Meade City Commissioner and mayor) is a proponent of the Arts and Heritage.

 

- The CRA can fund capital projects and may be a match for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant assuming projects have an arts component.

 

- State historical funds may be available to assist with projects targeting historic structures.  The City may benefit from an updated accounting of their historical structures.

 

- Polk County’s Historical Association is a 501(C)3 and may be a good match for NEA funding.

 

-        Fort Meade has areas that may qualify for the Department of State’s Main Street Program, especially given the two distinct corridors (downtown and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street).  Starting a Main Street Program would require a part time Executive Director.  This could be a part of the CRA or be incorporated into the Chamber of Commerce.

 

- Lorenzo McCutchen’s Fort Meade Neighborhood Development Project, a registered 501(C)3, organizes arts and crafts events and may consider being a partner to implement cultural programs within the city.

 

- The National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town Grant Program could be a viable source of funding for projects built around arts/culture/heritage, even if it is infrastructure as long as it is in line with the NEA requirements.  The City would need to partner with a 501(C)3.

 

- The City has a map of historical structures (mostly privately owned) as part of their Future Land Use map series in the Comprehensive Plan. The City may coordinate with the Florida Department of State to update this map.

 

- The State Division of Historic Resources offers small grants with no matching requirement.  This grant may be used to complete a survey of historic structures and update the map of historic structures in the Future Land Use map series in the Comprehensive Plan.

5.     Fort Meade ParksImprove and expand parks to offer residents and visitors more recreational amenities.

- The city has several parks ranging from tribute/open space to riverside.

 

- Patterson Park is currently implementing improvement projects due to be completed by April 2021.

 

- Peace River Park is currently appropriated $250,000 by both houses of Florida’s Legislature, but is subject to adjustment prior to end of June due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

 

- Lanier Ave. Park is part of the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project.

 

- Heritage Park is scheduled for new equipment in the upcoming year.

 

- Fazzini Park (2 acres) was donated to the city in 1996 by a developer who planned to build homes around the park.  The homes were never finished as planned and the city closed the park in 2009. Based on the deed, the park was returned to the developer.  Reopening the park may get explored in the upcoming budget as there is interest in acquiring once again.  The surrounding area is still platted.

6.     Community CenterImprove the Community Center to provide new programs for the residents of Fort Meade- The Community Center is scheduled to for improvements.
7.     Available industrial landExpand and attract new businesses for available industrial land

- The Central Florida Development Council is coordinating with large businesses to have a positive impact on the City.

 

- Create a brochure to identify available property for future development opportunities.

Next Section: Goals