Santa Rosa County Commissioner Lane Lynchard presented a starting list of potential recipients for the first round of BP oil spill settlement dollars at Monday’s Local RESTORE Council (LRC) meeting. Lynchard said, “This was just something I wanted to put together to see, as an example what could we do in this first round with $4 million, roughly.”
Resource and Ecosystem Sustainability Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies (RESTORE) projects fell under five categories: economic development (job creation), economic development (workforce development), tourism, environmental, and infrastructure. Lynchard’s list covers four of those five categories, leaving out job creation for now. The projects he tentatively suggested are as follows:
In the environmental category, he selected the Navarre Park Water Quality Enhancement project. The project asks $387,000 from RESTORE with a total cost of $759,000. It was requested by the county.
The Floridatown Water Quality Enhancement project also relates to sedimentation. It has a project cost of $241,000 in RESTORE dollars with $488,000 total. This is also a county project.
Rattlesnake Bluff Road Sedimentation Reduction is the third environmental project designed to “restore hydrology and water quality of Wolfe Creek, a tributary to the Yellow River, located along the unpaved Rattlesnake Bluff Road in Santa Rosa County,” according to the project details. Three Rivers Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. submitted the project, asking $124,200 from RESTORE with a $355,000 total cost.
Under economic development (workforce development), Lynchard selected the Second Chance Outreach Re-entry and education development and job skills training Program submitted by the United Way of Santa Rosa County. According to the program’s description, it will expand an existing program to stabilize recently released ex-offenders returning to the county each year saving taxpayers $18,000 for each client that does nto return to jail. United Way asks $250,000 from RESTORE and estimates a $1,750,000 total cost.
Also under economic development (workforce development), Lynchard selected the Entrepreneurship Academy of Pace High School project, submitted by the school district. According to the project’s description, “The Entrepreneurship Academy at Pace High School will be a groundbreaking career academy offering that transforms Pace High School students into real, confident entrepreneurs. Through the year, students in grades 9-12 will generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors, and launch their very own companies.” The program asks $32,500 in RESTORE dollars and has a $130,000 total cost.
Lynchard moved to infrastructure next with the Dirt Road Paving in districts 1, 4, and 5 project submitted by the county. The project asks $525,000 with a total cost of $1.2 million.
Driftwood Navy Cove Berry Stormwater Improvements project submitted by the City of Gulf Breeze asks $356,000 from RESTORE with a $713 total cost. “The project will provide for the restoration and protection of water quality in the Pensacola Bay Watershed,” according to the project description.
Under tourism, Lynchard selected the Blackwater Heritage State Trail Infrastructure Improvements project, which asks $40,000 from RESTORE and has a $70,000 total cost. Blackwater Heritage Trail, Inc. submitted the project. According to the project description, “The paved multiple use trail serves pedestrians, bicyclists, runners, roller skaters, and equestrian use. In addition to the use by both tourists and residents, the trail is also being used increasingly for bike and running events. Many of these events are in the shoulder season when Santa Rosa County is working to increase visitation by tourists. Through both the regular use of the trail and the events, participants have relayed to staff and trail volunteers the need for additional trail infrastructure. This infrastructure, which includes a bathroom, water fountains, and benches, will make the trail much more user and event friendly. Thus the purpose and objective of this proposal is to close those gaps in trail infrastructure by placing those missing amenities along the trail corridor.”
Lynchard also selected the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society’s Historical Working Center project. The GCKWS proposes “to construct a 2000 sq. ft. building adjacent to the current kiln property. The Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society Historical Center will be both a working center and museum and will house a collection of wood-fired ceramic art from around the world,” according to its project description. They ask $160,000 in RESTORE funds and has a $1,245,000 total cost.
Finally, in tourism, Lynchard suggested the Quinn Street Marina: Phase I project submitted by the City of Milton. The city asks $504,000 from RESTORE and the project has a total cost of $1,900,000. The project’s description says, “Phase I of the Quinn Street Marina Project expands upon the City’s current and ongoing plans to redevelop the marina at Quinn Street.”
Lynchard’s list still left $1.5 million for other projects. He said, “I’m not married to any of these projects. That was just an example I was going through here with projects that had a high leverage ratio and scored in the upper tier. I did not have one under job creation at this point. I was looking for those midrange projects in general. That was my first draft at getting some talking points out there.” Members of the council expressed support for this initial list and will add to and take from the list going forward.
Note also this list is missing two projects Lynchard selected unable to be confirmed by press time, but will be included in the story at www.srpressgazette.com along with links to the full project information.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: LRC’s first stab at RESTORE winners