WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA (February 4, 2022) – At the February meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James delivered the annual State of the City address at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach.

VIDEO: Watch Mayor James State of the City Address 2022

In what is being hailed as his ‘opportunity speech,’ Mayor James touted the city’s economic growth and development, measurable quality of life enhancements, and efforts to increase opportunities for all residents and business owners to fulfill their potential and realize their dreams.

Working to make West Palm Beach a ‘community of opportunity for all,’ Mayor James also provided updates on priority public safety, infrastructure, neighborhood and equity initiatives, and responses to current challenges.

Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, which was first identified in the U.S. in January 2020, West Palm Beach is experiencing a period of transformative growth under Mayor James’ leadership.

“Despite some of our darkest hours, where we lost loved ones and saw many others struggling to survive, this city made a statement about its future, about its character, about itself,” said Mayor James. “We are becoming for all to see a ‘birthplace of opportunity.’”

Key quality of life improvements in public safety, education, infrastructure, housing, the environment and to our neighborhoods, coupled with the city’s business-friendly environment, are making our city even more vibrant, developing an economy that works for all West Palm Beach residents, and attracting new residents and new businesses.

“Unquestionably, the stars have aligned for West Palm Beach,” said Mayor. “This is an inflection point in our city’s history. We must maintain the momentum presented to us by this magical moment. So, I ask for your support in continuing the great work we have started together.”

Mayor James announced the following updates and commitments:

Economic Growth & Development

• In 2021, as a sign of its economic strength, the city assisted with the relocation or expansion of 12 new companies, which added more than 1,300 highly compensated jobs. A growing number of financial services institutions are adding to the city’s reputation as “Wall Street South,” but tech, construction and multimedia are also relocating to West Palm Beach.
• In Fiscal Year (“FY”) ‘21, the city posted $3.9 million in business tax receipts, demonstrating record high business activity.
• During the pandemic, building permit revenues increased in six consecutive quarters, and in FY’22, the city is on pace to achieve the highest amount of building permit revenues in its history.
• Six Class-A office projects are now in the pipeline, after there were no new Class-A office projects between 2008-2019.
• Nearly $3 billion in privately-initiated projects are in various stages of completion, following last year’s groundbreaking for One Flagler and the ribbon cutting for 360 Rosemary. Transit Village, Icon Marina Village, West Palm Point, 301 Clematis and many other projects—too many to name-- are also in the works. (To search for private development projects in West Palm Beach, visit the Citywide Projects Search Tool on the city's website, WPB.org. Click here!)
• The Grand, an $81 million mixed-income workforce, multifamily rental development, which is now under construction, marks the single, largest investment in the Historic Northwest and the largest workforce housing project developed in the city.
• The city is advancing the creation of the Nora District, which will lay the foundation for future investment, development, and economic advancement in the city’s north end.
• Unprecedented wealth migration and relocations are driving a robust property market. Investments in residential and workforce housing are poised to bring 2,600 new units online.
• Two new hotels will add 300 rooms, strengthen West Palm Beach’s position as a convention center city, and accelerate the full return of tourism to the city.
• Small businesses are enjoying a significant rebound, after West Palm Beach was the first local municipality to provide financial assistance to small businesses impacted by COVID-19’s effects, at the direction of Mayor James.
• In FY21, $13.7 million (20 percent) of the total competed dollars for city contracts was paid to small businesses through the Office of Small & Minority Business Programs, which was established by Mayor James to ensure fair business practices in the city.
• The city is working on ways to more efficiently and safely move people—not just cars—throughout the city by executing the city’s mobility plan, which implements transit best practices for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

Neighborhood Enhancements & Infrastructure Improvements

• West Palm Beach ranked among Livability.com's Top 100 Best Places to Live in America.
• In FY ’22, the city adopted a balanced $206M General Fund Budget, which prioritizes community services, public health and safety, and quality of life initiatives without increases to taxes, fees, and the millage rate. Historic agreements with the city’s four labor unions, including the police and fire unions, provided for raises to employees who kept the city ‘open for business’ during the unprecedented health crisis.
• The ‘Neighborhoods First’ initiative, established by Mayor James in 2019, is delivering improved customer service to residents in all neighborhoods.
• The ‘Operation Clean Streets’ initiative, established by Mayor James in 2019, has led to the arrests of nine people and the removal of 178,000 lbs. of illegally-dumped material from neighborhood streets.
• In FY ‘21, $42-million was invested in capital improvement and infrastructure projects benefitting the entire city.
• 32-parks throughout the city are receiving upgrades and enhancements.
• The city is proactively addressing coastal flooding resulting from sea level rise by installing tidal valves and additional storm drain outfalls along our waterfront.
• Drainage improvements are slated for Roosevelt Estates, one of the city’s historically underserved neighborhoods.
• Improvements are occurring throughout the city, and there are too many projects to name. To name a few, renovations are planned for Currie Park, Chillingworth Park, Coleman Park Community Center, Pleasant City Community Center, and Sunset Lounge. Downtown streets including, Banyan Boulevard and Tamarind Avenue, are receiving significant upgrades. (Residents can see improvements in their neighborhoods by visiting the Capital Improvement Projects Portal on the city's website, WPB.org. Click here!)
• Future development is planned for 8111 South Dixie, and construction continues at the ‘Anchor Site.’
• Renovations are underway at the West Palm Golf Park, led by Seth Waugh and the West Palm Golf Community Trust. The golf park will stand as a modern model for municipal courses worldwide.

Public Safety

• The West Palm Beach Police Department achieved a 16 percent decrease in crimes against persons in 2021 (the lowest reported rate in 20 years), and murders decreased 22 percent from 2018. West Palm Beach is safe compared to other cities of its size. Public safety has been a top priority of Mayor James.
• The West Palm Beach Fire Department responded to a record 30,000 calls in 2021.
• The ProtectWPB vaccination and testing sites were established at Gaines Park, in coordination with federal, state and county safety partners.
• For the first time and beginning in FY’ 23, the city will be able to provide full staffing and full equipment, including a new fire engine and a new rescue truck, at Fire Station 8.

Housing, Homelessness, and Social Services

• Through Mayor’s ‘500 in 3’ initiative, the city is adding more than 500 workforce housing units to its housing stock. This goal was achieved in just two years, a full year ahead of deadline. Mayor announced his commitment to add an additional 100 units to a three-year goal for a grand total of 600 units of workforce housing in three years.
• An innovative partnership with the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University—the second major Florida university to express interest in doing business in West Palm Beach in a year--will create agriculture programs and opportunities, operate three community gardens, and expand access to affordable health food options in “food deserts” in the city.
• In 2021, the city and its partners housed 118 people experiencing homelessness and reunited 51 individuals with their loved ones.
• The new Eva W. Mack Community Hub, now under construction, will connect people to life-changing programs and services.
• A comprehensive housing program will soon be introduced to provide education, economic opportunity, and affordable home purchase options for people of color and their families, thanks to a Florida Housing Coalition grant.

Equity, Education and Technology

• The city is beginning to implement priority recommendations from the Mayor’s Taskforce on Racial and Ethnic Equality, which—for the first time in the city’s history-- created a roadmap toward meaningful, transformative change in the following areas: education and workforce development; finance, banking and business; health; real estate and housing; and criminal justice.
• The Mayor’s JumpStart Academy is a new initiative that will offer training for entrepreneurs and incubate new businesses in underserved communities.
• The city and the University of Florida continue to negotiate to bring the UF@WPB initiative to West Palm Beach, which would support the growth and expansion of West Palm Beach companies through innovative graduate, professional and executive programs in financial technology, artificial intelligence, data analytics and cyber security. The proposal was initiated by Palm Beach County Commissioner David Kerner.
• The Mayor’s Education Grant Program is a new initiative that will directly award grants to eligible elementary schools in West Palm Beach to help children improve reading and math skills.

Environment

• West Palm Beach will continue to be a leader and take necessary actions to address climate change and build resilience.
• The city will continue to fight the State Road 7 extension, which threatens Grassy Waters Preserve, the 23-square mile wetlands ecosystem serving as the city’s freshwater supply.
• An expert panel established by Mayor James is expected to deliver their final report to Mayor later this month. Comprised of nationally-renowned water experts, the panel’s mission is to increase resilience to threats to the city’s water system after an unregulated toxin, for which the city was not required to test, was discovered in the city’s water last year.