Newsroom

The Office of Equity and Inclusion has announced the application process is open for businesses to participate in the 2021 Mentor-Protégé Program. The program supports the development of small and diverse businesses by partnering emerging businesses (protégés) with established businesses (mentors) throughout the area. The program is designed to help local businesses become qualified to do business with the City of Gainesville.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, GFR is launching its first ever Mobile Flu Vaccination Program. For 22 days, the outreach team will travel to vulnerable neighborhoods to provide free, accessible flu vaccines to our neighbors who are 2 years of age and older. The mission of the Mobile Flu Vaccination Program is to limit the level of exposure and minimize mortality during flu season. For dates, locations and times, please visit our calendar or our Facebook page.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, the City of Gainesville is opening Porters Community Center (512 SW Second Ter.) and the Eastside Recreation Center (2841 E. University Ave.) for remote learning support Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Out of an abundance of caution for the health and well-being of our neighbors, the City of Gainesville kept its playgrounds closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. A phase III reopening plan for city playgrounds has been thoughtfully prepared by staff, and is ready for implementation by Friday, Oct. 16.

The Office of Strategic Initiatives brought members of the community together for a day of active problem-solving during the recent online Civic Hackathon, “How do we create a social safety net to help make Gainesville a more livable community?” The event was designed to generate ideas and solutions toward a stronger community for all Gainesville neighbors. 

Neighbors are invited to participate in an hour-long dialogue about racial inequality when the Mayor’s Book Club resumes 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 as a virtual event. 

The City of Gainesville is seeking eligible applicants to participate in the ConnectFree Program to develop and/or rehabilitate affordable rental housing projects. The ConnectFree Program provides financial assistance for the development and/or rehabilitation of affordable rental housing projects, including but not limited to, projects that utilize the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) Program. To be eligible for financial assistance through the ConnectFree Program, the projects must meet certain program criteria such as providing rental housing units to low-income households, as well as demonstrating financial capacity to develop and manage the rental housing projects. Other eligibility criteria may apply, as determined by the city.

After 30 years of dedicated service to Gainesville neighbors and the City of Gainesville, Fire Chief Jeffrey Lane is retiring from Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR), effective Sept. 30.

The City of Gainesville has expanded dataGNV, part of its online open data portal, to include data collected during its recently completed Neighbor Survey. Neighbors can locate survey data and analysis reports through the new Neighbor Feedback button on dataGNV.

The City of Gainesville has launched a new Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Utility Assistance program, expanding local relief and recovery efforts through direct assistance to neighbors negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.