Newsroom

Effective immediately, Gainesville businesses that are temporarily closed for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency are exempt from enforcement of the city ordinance requiring a minimum level of service of once a week for garbage collection. City of Gainesville Solid Waste Inspectors will temporarily suspend enforcement of that requirement on any closed businesses until such time as they reopen. There is also no minimum collection requirement for recyclables. All businesses that are still generating garbage are still subject to the ordinance.

The City of Gainesville and Alachua County are pleased to report that we have expanded our COVID-19 testing capabilities to include a drive thru testing site. This site will limit public contact between residents and protect healthcare professionals. At this time, the Department of Health is only offering testing by appointment to patients who have been referred by a physician.

Join us in welcoming Captain Quarantine to the team! In order to promote fun and positivity during the quarantine, we asked Captain Quarantine to deliver positive messages, reminders and helpful tips to our neighbors during the stay-at-home order.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is accepting applications for Outside Agency Grants for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022. Each grant is awarded for a two-year funding period beginning Oct. 1, 2020 and ending Sept. 30, 2022. The new application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, May 1, 2020.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is accepting applications Special Event Additional Support grants for the Fiscal Year 2021. Each grant is awarded for a one-year funding period beginning Oct. 1, 2020 and ending Sept. 30, 2021. The new application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, May 1, 2020.

During the 2010 Census, an estimated 40,000 people were not counted in the Alachua County area. This resulted in an estimated loss of nearly 400 million dollars over the past ten years. This year, we have an opportunity to make sure that we are getting the funding our community needs and deserves. We need your help! Through our Census Mini Grant Program, the City of Gainesville is offering five grants of up to $3,000 each to local community organizations to help us make sure that every person living in our area is counted.

Please note this event has been postponed.

The City of Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA) is sharing its 10-Year Reinvestment Plan at a public event at the Cade Museum (811 S. Main St.) Tuesday, March 17 from 6-8 p.m.

The City of Gainesville invites the public to celebrate the renaming of Tumblin Creek Park to Cora P. Roberson Park Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at 600 SW Sixth St. City commissioners will unveil the park's new sign at the ceremony.

City of Gainesville officials anticipate severe weather conditions, including temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit during evening hours, Friday, March 6 through Saturday, March 7. The anticipated temperatures will lead to the activation of the city's Cold Night Shelter (CNS) Program, and it is expected to remain in effect until overnight low temperatures rise above 45 F. The CNS program normally runs from Nov. 1 through March 31.