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Joseph E. Flescher <br />Chairman <br />District 2 <br />Deryl Loar <br />Vice Chairman <br />District 4 <br />BOARD OF COUNTY <br />A TRUE COPY 5, p <br />COMMISSIONERS CERTIFICATION ON LAST PAGE <br />RYAN L. BUTLER, CLERK <br />, 1AD1arras ar_C ftelV) <br />Susan Adams <br />May 20, 2025 <br />The Honorable Steve Womack, Chair <br />Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and <br />Related Agencies <br />2358-A Rayburn HOB <br />Washington, DC 20515 <br />Dear Chairman Womack and Members of the Subcommittee, <br />District 1 <br />Joseph H. Earman <br />District 3 <br />Laura Moss <br />District 5 <br />The Board of County Commissioners for Indian River County, Florida, appreciate the tireless <br />energy that Representative Mike Haridopolos (District 8) devotes to issues important to our <br />citizens. We are proud to call him our congressman. <br />We are writing in support of the member community project appropriations request submitted to <br />your subcommittee by Representative Haridopolos. This funding will jump start the <br />development of a Fellsmere Public Library and Community Resource Center in the rural <br />section of our county known as Fellsmere, taking a community dream to the beginning of the <br />planning, engineering and design phase. <br />The City of Fellsmere is a historically underserved rural community facing significant barriers to <br />broadband access, workforce development, veteran services, and coordinated social support. <br />This project would directly address those gaps, helping foster economic development, <br />community resilience, and equitable access to critical resources. <br />The benefits to the Fellsmere community are expected to be far-reaching and broad in scope. <br />The Public Library/Resource Center is envisioned to offer an Economic Development <br />component to include expanded workforce training, entrepreneurial development, and job <br />placement services. This facility will foster 21St -century skills, creativity, and workforce readiness <br />through digital innovation spaces, advancing Innovation and Technology Engagement. <br />It is envisioned that the Center will serve as a hub for Veteran Services providing improved <br />local access to benefits, outreach, and healthcare navigation. Families will benefit through a <br />network of integrated nonprofit and governmental services designed to strengthen the stability <br />of the family unit. <br />This highlights just a few of the benefits a project like the one proposed can bring to a <br />community like Fellsmere through community collaboration, community -driven initiatives and <br />agency and government partnerships. <br />1801 271h Street, Building A <br />Vero Beach, FL 32960 <br />(772) 226-1490 <br />