Rep. Berny Jacques leads eight Pinellas projects as part of Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget

SEMINOLE, Fla. – Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, highlighted over $6 million worth of funding for eight projects he helped pass for Pinellas County as part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2024-2025 budget.

Jacques detailed the projects after the signing ceremony with DeSantis. They include $750,000 for Empowered to Change International, Inc, which will go to help survivors of human trafficking.

He also secured $500,000 for 211 Tampa Bay Cares, a disaster support services for seniors and caregivers.

The project specifically provides older adults and their unpaid caregivers with “tailored, easy-to-access information related to emergency/disaster preparedness”, along with guidance on how to develop develop customized emergency plans.

Moreover, Jacques collected $2,500,000 for The Pinellas Science Center, which will go towards refurbishing the facility.

“I am proud to have taken the reigns on the restoration of this community treasure!” he said.

Among the other six projects, Jacques acquired $1 million for St. Petersburg College Manufacturing Lab, which will provide students with “cutting-edge technological training and access to high quality, high paying, and increasingly vital manufacturing jobs” in Florida.

Jacques also secured $850,000 for Operation PAR Integrated Care Project, which helps expand drug detox services in Largo, Fl. The funding also will provide a safe and supervised environment for individuals in critical early stages of recovery.

In addition, Jacques collected $350,000 for A Door of Hope: Recruitment of and Services for Foster Families. The funding will help recruit and license more than 250 families so they can foster children in need of safe and loving homes. The project also sets a 5-year goal of licensing 1,000 children in a region where there is the highest need while impacting 7,000 children through out the organization.

Jacques also acquired $400,000 for Pinellas Park Park Roadway and Intersection Improvements at 60th Street/Park Boulevard.

He also pushed for an additional $180,000 for Emergency Response, Security and School Hardening at Indian Rocks Christian School.