Latest news with #JennaHaligas
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Panama City officials award Hometown Revitalization grant funds to local businesses
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – Hurricane Michael recovery efforts are about to surge ahead. On Tuesday, Panama City commissioners awarded grant money to the first group of local businesses eligible for the Hometown Revitalization Program. About three years ago, Panama City was awarded nearly $13.5 million from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for the grant. About 50 eligible businesses from low- or moderate-income areas applied for funding for cosmetic upgrades. 'It's not just for you know, to have a pretty building, although it makes a big difference. But it makes people feel safer. It promotes local business. And one of the, I think pride of the greatest things is civic pride and how people feel,' Panama City Commissioner Jenna Haligas said. Alice's on Bayview, Hunt's Oyster Bar and Seafood, and Little Village and FINNS Island Style Grub are the first recipients of the grant, totaling nearly $500,000 for this group. FINNS received the majority of the grant and will be undergoing the most significant makeover. 'It's going to just create so much more aesthetic. You know, just when people come in and something new, something fresh, everyone likes to see that. You know, everyone likes to see small growth,' Little Village and FINNS Island Style Grub owner Justin Buxton said. 'With the state coming in and funding this to kind of revamp to revitalize St. Andrew's, Panama City or all the surrounding areas, it's just I think it's I think it's fabulous.' They'll be using the funding for a wraparound awning, storm windows and doors, re-painting the building, new decking, and more. FINNS officials say they'll try to stay open during construction. The city will continue awarding grants to the eligible businesses in the coming months. Some of the grant funds will also go towards parking in downtown St. Andrews and phase two of the streetscape project downtown. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Panama City adds new signage downtown
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – There are new street signs at the corner of 5th Street and Grace Avenue right in front of the Panama City City Hall. It is part of the community redevelopment agency's newest revitalization project. The signage is black and gold, with an 'Art Deco' theme. The in-house city design workers were inspired by the Martin Theater. 'We decided to take that historic building. And because it is an artistic building and the downtown has got an artistic vibe, we decided to go with that one. And this was the end result,' Community Redevelopment Agency Program Manager Michelle Zirkle said. The CRA is investing $110,000 to put up 70 of the new street signs. They'll be located from 6th Street South to the marina, and in between the bridges on West Beach Drive, Tarpon Dock, and on 4th Street by the Bay County Courthouse. Florida State Board of immigration Enforcement held first meeting in Niceville Most will be installed in the next two weeks, but workers will be accommodating some of the other construction going on downtown. 'We do have a new infrastructure project with new water and sewer going on in parts of downtown. So those signs will be installed during that construction phase,' Panama City Commissioner Ward 1 Jenna Haligas said. The project will also include wayfinding signs, directing people to some of downtown's main buildings and points of interest. City officials hope the new signs will help attract more visitors to the downtown area. 'We're seeing so many younger people and children and families it's just a wonderful place to be. And we're just hoping it's just kind of, you know, adds to the placemaking that we've created downtown,' Haligas said. The city is also working on new lighting for McKenzie Park and the ongoing downtown marina projects. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Panama City commissioners sell unused land parcel to advance downtown development
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Panama City commissioners are continuing their mission of repurposing unused parcels of land. On Tuesday, they decided to sell a downtown waterfront property at the corner of East 6th Street and Harmon Avenue. The city originally bought it in 2004 as a possible site for a new federal courthouse, but it's sat vacant for the last 20 years. Commissioners plan to put the land out for bid. They're hoping the buyer will use it to contribute to current downtown redevelopment efforts. Haney Technical College celebrates Career and Technical Education month 'I'd like to see mixed-use there. If there's any capability of improving the waterfront, because right now you can't get a boat back there because of how the bridge is, but you can paddleboard, you could do things like that. You could just sit and enjoy the water. And right now, it's not improved at all for that. So, it'd be cool if we could work with some private investors and create not only mixed-use but still public access and improved access,' Commissioner Jenna Haligas said. Commissioners agreed to have the property appraised before offering it up for auction. They say they still want the public to have access to the waterfront. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
