Santa Rosa wants to hear from cyclists and walkers


  • November 24, 2014
  • /   Louis Cooper
  • /   government
Santa Rosa County wants to know what residents in the Navarre/Gulf Breeze area think about the county’s walking/cycling facilities in that area. The county’s Economic Development Office has launched new online resources for small businesses. The Bagdad Mill Site Trail has received a $200,000 grant and local holiday parades are about to commence. Seeking: South End cyclists and walkers Santa Rosa County leaders want to know what kind of improvements south end residents would like to see for pedestrian and bicycle amenities. An online survey is available at www.ssrbpp.org. The survey asks respondents about their demographics, biking and walking habits, what they think about pedestrian and bicycle facilities available now and what kind of changes they would like to see. The survey will help the county develop safe transportation alternatives to travel on U.S. 98. Future projects will focus on improving safety, recreational and tourism opportunities in the Gulf Breeze/Navarre area. The master planning process will be completed by May. For more information on the plan go to www.ssrbpp.org, like the project on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ssrbpp or contact Kristen A. Shell, Santa Rosa County senior planner, at (850) 983-1816. Santa Rosa offers ‘intelligence’ for small businesses The Santa Rosa County Economic Development Office now offers free online demographic search and business analysis tools. The demographic tool found at http://www.santarosaedo.com/demographic.html offers instant access to information on populations, consumer expenses and labor force in Santa Rosa County. The business analysis tool found at http://www.santarosaedo.com/intelligence.html, is designed to help businesses make smarter decisions through options such as business and industry, advertising, competitive intelligence and demographic analyses. “After hearing the need to assist more small businesses, the Santa Rosa County Economic Development Office is now offering these local business intelligence tools that will provide small businesses answers to potential questions such as, ‘How do I compare?’ and ‘Where are my customers?’ or ‘Where should I advertise?,’” said Economic Development Director Shannon Ogletree. “Together the new tools allow our residents access to on-demand, customizable demographic information and an overall scorecard of how the business is performing,” he said. “The data can also assist our citizens when looking for general information and when applying for grants.” For anyone looking for more in-depth information, SantaRosaSites.com is available and allows users to view, create and print maps, find available commercial or business property, and develop custom demographic radius reports online. Bagdad trail awarded $200,000 The Bagdad Mill Site Trail was one of 10 projects funded through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced on Nov. 14. Eight of the 10 projects – including the Badgad Mill Site Trail — were funded at the maximum grant request of $200,000. The remaining two were funded at lesser amounts requested by the applicants. The program matches local money dollar-for-dollar. The trail is part of the larger Bagdad Mill Site Park, the 20-acre site at the confluence of Pond Creek and the Blackwater River that was home to the Bagdad Lumber Mill for more than a century, closing in 1939.  The trail is intended to connect the park to the nearby Blackwater River State Heritage Trail, which provides pedestrian, equestrian and bicycle access from Milton to Whiting Field. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a federal competitive grant program that provides matching grants to help local communities protect parks and develop recreational resources. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection administers the Land and Water Conservation Fund on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior and National Park Service. Holiday parades about to start Here is a list of Santa Rosa holiday parades, which start this Saturday: - Jay Christmas Parade: Nov. 29. The line-up will begin at 9 a.m. at the Bray-Hendricks Park, with the parade starting at 10 a.m. - Gulf Breeze Holiday Parade: Dec. 6, 10 a.m. Route will be along Shoreline Drive. - Navarre Community Christmas Parade: Dec. 6, 1 p.m. Route to be announced. - Milton Christmas Parade: Dec. 6, 6 p.m. Route to be announced.  
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