BOCC Special Call Meeting to Consider Approval of Resolution of Support Designating Gifford as a Children’s Initiative Community

Special Call Meeting: Board of County Commissioners · 2026-06-29 · agenda_packet

The Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County, Florida, met on June 29, 2026, to consider supporting an application for the Gifford community to be designated as a Florida Children’s Initiative (FCI). Pioneering Change, Inc., a nonprofit, is leading this effort. The FCI designation, established by Fla. Stat. Section 409.147, aims to identify severely disadvantaged areas and provide state resources and guidance for community improvement. The Gifford community faces significant socioeconomic challenges, including a 42% poverty rate, with 33.3% of its population under 18 and 59.5% of children living below the poverty line. Educational attainment is limited, and access to resources like affordable housing and broadband is hindered. The Board is recommended to support the resolution for the application, which aims to coordinate services in education, health, economic development, and family support. Future actions may involve establishing a not-for-profit corporation to manage the initiative. The agenda also included administrative matters and public comment opportunities.