Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – Alachua County is looking for residents willing to serve on a County Advisory Board. The openings listed below have a critical need for applicants. Those with an interest in being engaged and involved with County government and the community are strongly encouraged to apply.

Current openings in need of immediate applicants include:

Affordable Housing Advisory Committee: The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee evaluates local government policies and procedures and recommends specific actions to encourage affordable housing. The board is statutorily required for the administration of State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds, and also administers the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Positions needed: one citizen actively engaged as a for-profit provider of affordable housing, one citizen representing laborers actively engaged in residential affordable housing construction, one citizen actively engaged in the banking or mortgage industry in connection with affordable housing, one Alachua County resident, one alternate.

Housing Finance Authority: The Housing Finance Authority is authorized under state statute to issue tax exempt revenue bonds to finance qualified affordable housing projects in Alachua County. Positions needed: one alternate, one citizen-at-large, one citizen-at-large (knowledgeable in labor, finance, or commerce).

Recreation and Open Space Advisory Committee: This advisory board engages in an annual review of the Capital Improvement Project list pertaining to recreation projects and assists and advises the County Commission on future policies and directions. Positions needed: seven citizens-at-large.

Regional Transit System Advisory Board: The Regional Transit Advisory Board evaluates policies concerning the operation and financing of the Regional Transit System, they also review ridership, routes, rates and other related matter. Positions needed: one citizen who is one of the following; Chamber of Commerce representative, member of the environmental community, or member of the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO) Citizen’s Advisory Committee; one citizen who is one of the following; major employer in local area, senior citizen, person with disability; one citizen who is one of the following; regular user of the transit system, UF student, SFC student, member of a neighborhood/or home owners association.

Wild Spaces & Public Places Citizen Oversight Committee: The purpose of this committee is to assure citizens and elected officials that funds collected  through the Wild Spaces & Public Places sales tax, collected from 2009-2011, are expended only for parks and recreation facilities that were on approved project lists, and conservation land purchases consistent with referendum language. Positions needed: two County residents, one alternate.

To find more information about the boards, visit the Advisory Board Information page and use the “Select a Board” drop down box at the top of the page to select your board of interest.

To apply for a position, visit Advisory Board Vacancies and scroll down to your board of interest.

For more information, contact Darlene Ryon in the County Manager’s Office at 352-264-6906.