July 3, 2023

The Alachua County Public Works Department announces that N.E. 27th Avenue in the Copeland area is the first resurfacing project to use funds from the new Infrastructure Surtax approved by voters last November. The tax will generate approximately $11.7 million annually for road rehabilitation projects. Combined with other funding sources, these dollars are part of the quarter of a billion-dollar, 10-year pavement management program recently approved by the County Commission.

Read more about the road resurfacing.

Alachua County is pleased to announce the launch of its Meetings and Events Calendar. A link to the new calendar can be found on the County homepage under the “Meetings and Events” tab and replaces the “Upcoming Meetings” tab previously there.

This comprehensive calendar makes it easier than ever to stay connected and involved by serving as a one-stop guide to all County meetings, County-sponsored events, and County holidays and closures.

Meetings on the calendar will include meeting agendas and helpful links when available. The calendar can be added to various calendar applications. To add the calendar, hit the “Subscribe” button at the top right of the page and follow the instructions.

“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to serve our residents,” noted County Manager Michele Lieberman. “This calendar will make finding important events just a couple of mouse clicks away.” 

On Juneteenth, 2023, Alachua County honored the life and legacy of the late Dr. Patricia Hilliard-Nunn by unveiling the Sankofa Statue on the West Lawn of the County Administration Building (12 S.E. 1st Street, Gainesville). Included in the installation is information on Dr. Hilliard-Nunn.

Watch the short video.

Dr. Hilliard-Nunn (1963-2020) was a teacher, scholar, artist, and community activist who taught African and African American history at the University of Florida and lectured at many venues throughout Alachua County. She studied Media and Culture, Audience Analysis, Enslaved Africans in Alachua County, and African American History in Alachua County. Her creative practices included Media Production and West African Dance & Mixed Media Art. Before teaching African American Studies, she taught Black Women and Film at the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research at the University of Florida. In her lectures, she often emphasized the importance of “Sankofa.”

The Sankofa bird is a symbol of wisdom from the Akan people of West Africa. While holding an egg in its mouth, its backward-looking pose signifies the importance of learning from the past to shape the future. It teaches us to honor our roots, embrace our history, and carry forward our ancestors' valuable lessons and experiences.

Alachua County recently held the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of the Alachua County Sports & Event Center at Celebration Pointe.

Watch a short video of the event.

The 144,000 sq. ft. Alachua County Sports & Events Center was made possible by a public-private partnership between Alachua County and Celebration Pointe Developer, Viking Companies, LLC.

Project funding came from Alachua County’s $30 million in Tourist Development Taxes (paid by visitors to the County), Viking’s $3 million, and the State of Florida’s $2.32 million.

At the Regular County Commission Meeting on May 23, 2023, the Alachua County Commission adopted changes to the Landscape Irrigation Design and Maintenance Standards, which went into effect on June 12, 2023. The staff has been working with the irrigation and building industry over the past year and has hosted multiple workshops to discuss code changes before them taking effect. The revised code limits the area that can be permanently irrigated to 50% of the permeable area, with a maximum irrigated footprint of 0.25 acres per residential lot.

Irrigation professionals installing or maintaining irrigation systems within Alachua County must register their business with the County to receive code updates and workshop notices. All new irrigation systems and additions to existing systems must adhere to the new efficiency standards, which require approval before installation.

Find out more about the landscape irrigation standards.

​Alachua County’s landscape fertilizer regulations prohibit using landscape fertilizers with nitrogen from July through February and require that fertilizers containing nitrogen contain no less than 50 percent slow-release nitrogen. New regulations also prohibit phosphorus unless a deficiency is verified. The three numbers on a fertilizer bag are nitrogen, then phosphorus, and finally, potassium. This means the middle number on the bag must be zero unless you have conducted a soil or tissue test to verify the need for phosphorus. Signage about the fertilizer rules must be displayed at all stores that sell fertilizer. Alachua County Environmental Protection staff are currently distributing signage.

“Fertilizers are a source of pollution to our surface waters, groundwater, and springs, so we want to ensure that citizens are aware of the fertilizer ban,” said Alachua County Environmental Protection Department Water Resources Program Manager Stacie Greco. She continued, “In a recent survey, the percentage of residents reporting they don’t use fertilizers at all has increased from 55% to 68%.” 

Find out more about the landscape fertilizer ban.

Alachua County expects the heat index values (feels like temperatures) to be over 100° for the next several days.

Those who must be outdoors should use extreme caution and practice proper heat safety.

Find out more about heat safety.

The Board of Directors for the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) announced today that Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, has been awarded the "Accreditation with Distinction" designation. This accreditation demonstrates that the Alachua County Visitors and Convention Bureau has satisfied the rigorous standards set forth by the professional destination marketing community, and in earning accreditation, Visit Gainesville, Alachua County communicates to their community, stakeholders, boards, and visitors that their destination marketing organization has attained the industry's highest measure of excellence.

"Visit Gainesville, Alachua County is honored to receive this distinction from Destinations International," said Alachua County Tourist Development Manager Jessica Hurov. "On behalf of my team, we are so excited to be recognized by the industry for providing outstanding services in compliance with international standards and benchmarks in our field."

Read more about the award.

Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) is happy to announce that it has been awarded an "Assistance to Firefighters Grant" from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These federal grants enhance firefighter safety and operations. Alachua County will provide a 10% match to the $628,050 grant. 

The grant will be utilized to purchase and install air-evacuations systems at all the Alachua County Fire Stations. The system works by evacuating harmful exhaust emissions in the fire station bays. This grant is vital to ensure firefighter health and well-being and will be instrumental in the cancer prevention program. 

Find out more about the Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Programs

2023 UF/IFAS Livestock and Forages Field Day

Commercial Horticulture Program