Manatee County, Florida Government

04/08/2026

Recovery is here! And Cortez needs you to know, "There's still time to sign up and see how we can help!"

To enroll in the Lasting Manatee Home Recovery Program that restores eligible homes damaged by hurricanes, you must submit your pre-application by Monday, August 31, at 11:59 PM. If you owned and still own your primary residence that was damaged by Debby, Helene, or Milton, get in touch with us at 🌐LastingManatee.org or 📍1012 Manatee Ave W in Bradenton to see if you qualify.

Want to know the requirements at a glance? Head here: LastingManatee.org/

04/08/2026

Commissioner Siddique weighs in on the three recommendations proposed by the Government Efficiency Liaison Committee at the last Regular Board of County Commissioners Meeting.

Hungry for more details? Go to https://youtube.com/live/PKrESQG3etQ.

04/08/2026

The public hearing for the Comprehensive Plan Re-Write will be rescheduled to a future Board meeting. This additional time will allow County staff to thoroughly review and evaluate the many public comments received before the transmittal hearing.

Because the remaining agenda items have also been continued to future meeting dates, there is no additional business scheduled for this hearing.

A new hearing date will be announced and publicly noticed in accordance with all applicable public notice requirements once it has been scheduled.

02/08/2026

Find out what you missed about Manatee County’s projects and programs in the latest NewsFlash: https://bit.ly/NewsFlashJUL26

Have NewsFlash delivered right to your inbox by signing up at bit.ly/NewsFlashSignUp.

02/08/2026

Meet Jacolyn Abdala, the August Team Member of the Month. Jackie is the Compliance Coordinator for our Solid Waste Department and works at the Manatee County Landfill. Jackie is known for her environmental responsibility, customer experience, and solutions-oriented mindset. She goes above and beyond to ensure compliance standards, process improvement, and safeguarding the organization against any potential violations or operational risks. Jackie has also stepped in to help other colleagues with resolving other complex situations or offer guidance and training, beyond what she is required to do.

We are grateful to have Jackie on our team. Keep up the good work!

01/08/2026

💧 Happy Manatee County Water Professionals Month!💧

This month, we're celebrating the dedicated men and women who work around the clock to keep our water safe, reliable, and affordable. Thank you to our:
🔬 Lab technicians testing water quality
🔧 Crews repairing pipes underground
🌎 Teams educating our community about conservation
🫗 Distribution staff making sure water keeps flowing efficiently
🖥️ Operators ensuring safe water and wastewater systems

Every one of you plays a vital role in something we often take for granted: clean water at the turn of a tap.

Thank you to our incredible Manatee County Utilities team for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to our community. We couldn't do it without you!

31/07/2026

Congratulations to the newest graduates of the Manatee County Citizens Academy!

Over the past several weeks, these residents have taken an in-depth look at how Manatee County Government serves our community. From meeting the people behind the scenes to hearing directly from staff, subject matter experts, and County Commissioners, participants gained a firsthand understanding of the services, projects, and daily operations that keep our county moving forward.

The Citizens Academy is designed to build stronger connections between local government and the community by giving residents the knowledge and tools to become informed ambassadors in their neighborhoods. We hope each graduate will take what they’ve learned and share it with friends, family, and neighbors, helping others better understand the work being done across Manatee County.

A special thank you to our Neighborhood Connections team and the many County employees, department leaders, and Commissioners who dedicated their time to making this program such a success.

Missed this session? Stay tuned! The next Citizens Academy cycle is coming soon, and we’re also working to launch a Virtual Citizens Academy that will allow even more residents to learn about County government online and earn certification as Neighborhood Ambassadors from wherever they are.

Congratulations again to our graduates, and thank you for your commitment to making Manatee County an even stronger community!

31/07/2026

It is Ranger Day and we couldn't do it without them!

What many people don't see is the hard work behind every burn. Prescribed fire is one of the most effective land management tools we have for maintaining healthy Florida ecosystems. These carefully planned burns help reduce wildfire risk, improve wildlife habitat, and support the native plants that depend on fire to thrive.

What many people don't see is the hard work behind every burn. The Duette Preserve crew spends countless hours monitoring weather, evaluating conditions, preparing equipment, and developing detailed burn plans before a single flame is lit. Every burn is a calculated process designed to safely meet specific land management goals.

31/07/2026

Back-to-school season is here, which means it's the perfect time to clean out those closets and find some new-to-you clothes!

Join UF IFAS Extension Manatee County for their Community Clothing Swap on August 21 & 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

By swapping and reusing clothing, we can help reduce textile waste, keep usable items out of landfills, and conserve the water and natural resources used to produce new clothing. We encourage you to drop off donations ahead of time at our Agriculture & Extension Service Office at 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221, Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–5 p.m., so we can prepare for the event.

Donations will also be accepted during the swap.
We welcome clothing for men, women, and children, including shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, shoes, hats, purses, and backpacks.

Register for free: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clothing-swap-tickets-1993605281062?fbclid=IwY2xjawTZcMVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFNQXQ5aGVNamQ5b0w5c0N1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqAfkC1GyWOBsyxR--L3MAu02GgrWKqFxQPBNqiRIpRxiCNaCkAo1XMuyKMc_aem_-XTsQMYNi7NM3ESxaNDPQg

Back-to-school season is here, which means it's the perfect time to clean out those closets and find some new-to-you clothes!

Join us for our Community Clothing Swap on August 21 & 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. That's right, because of popular demand we are doing TWO DAYS this time. Bring your clean, gently used clothing and browse our selection to find something new for yourself or your family all at no cost. With kids growing quickly and a new school year right around the corner, this is a great opportunity to refresh their wardrobes while also finding clothing for adults.

By swapping and reusing clothing, we can help reduce textile waste, keep usable items out of landfills, and conserve the water and natural resources used to produce new clothing. We encourage you to drop off donations ahead of time at our Agriculture & Extension Service Office at 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221, Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–5 p.m., so we can prepare for the event. Donations will also be accepted during the swap.

We welcome clothing for men, women, and children, including shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, shoes, hats, purses, and backpacks. Clean out your closet, help a neighbor, and start the school year with a more sustainable swap!

Register for free here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clothing-swap-tickets-1993605281062

31/07/2026

Every 5-star review tells a story of service, dedication and impact.

Thank you to Matt for taking the time to share your experience with Manatee County Veterans Services and recognize Veterans Service Officer John Eastwood. Helping veterans navigate the benefits they’ve earned is at the heart of what our team does every day.

We’re proud of our Veterans Services staff for the compassion, expertise and commitment they bring to every veteran and family they serve. Feedback like this reminds us that great customer service can make a meaningful difference.

Your feedback is your return on community. It not only recognizes our staff, but also helps other veterans learn about the services available to them right here in Manatee County.

If you’ve had a positive experience with Manatee County Veterans Services, we’d love to hear from you. Your review helps us continue serving those who served.

Share your story here: https://g.page/r/CYhoLWwGOQOKEBM/review