11/8/24 @ 3:00 p.m. -The State of Florida, through its Attorney General, and certain Local Governments, through their elected representatives and counsel, were engaged in litigation seeking to hold many of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Participants accountable for the damage caused to the State by their misfeasance, nonfeasance and malfeasance ("Opioid Lawsuits").

On July 26, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) took action to participate in the Opioid Lawsuits by Resolution 2021-156 and beginning in January 2022, the State of Florida Attorney General negotiated settlement agreements of the Opioid Lawsuits with multiple parties requiring settlement payments be made over an 18-year period. Proceeds from the settlement agreements with the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Participants must be used to increase the amount of funding presently spent on opioid and substance abuse education, treatment, prevention and recovery services.

Nassau County's Opioid Settlement Task Force was created by Resolution No. 2024-040 in April 2024​. It is comprised of individuals and stakeholders with knowledge, direct or indirect experience with Opioid substance abuse, and a vested interest in the reduction of Opioid misuse. Their purpose is to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners the most efficient use of settlement funds in accordance with the Core Strategies and Approved Uses as dictated by the settlement agreements. 

In September 2024, the BOCC issued a Press Release notifying the community of an opportunity to apply for opioid settlement funds. On Thursday, November 7, 2024, the Opioid Settlement Task Force met to review Opioid Settlement Project Submission Packets that had been received from Starting Point Behavioral Health, The Coalition for Community Health, and Rise, all totaling $615,497 in funding requests.  Assistant County Manager Marshall Eyerman notified the Task Force that settlement funding for the year is $386,748. 

Each organization made presentations at the November 7th meeting to provide information on their organization and projects designed to offer additional opioid education, treatment and recovery programs to the community using the settlement funding. In order to be considered, each project must align with Core Strategies as dictated by the settlement agreements. No formal decision was made at the November 7th meeting, however the Task Force will meet again on December 14, 2024 at 2pm to continue the discuss related to the funding requests. These meetings are open to the public and are held in the County's Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL. 

If you would like to watch the November 7, 2024 meeting of the Opioid Settlement Task Force, please click here. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer 

9/25/24 @ 1:15 p.m. - At the Wednesday, September 18, 2024 meeting, the Board approved Proclamation No. 2024-032 recognizing the ARC Nassau on 50 years of service to Nassau County residents. Since 1974, the ARC Nassau has provided support and services to adults with intellectual disabilities. They recently announced a merger with the Northeast Florida Advocates for Autism and Related Disabilities and will now also provide services to youth. The Board commends the ARC Nassau on 50 outstanding years of services to Nassau County residents and wishes them well on all their future endeavors. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

9/12/24 @ 9:00 a.m. - In case you missed it! The Council on Aging is hosting the 10th Annual Senior Expo and Health Fair on Friday, September 13, 2024 from 9am-1pm. This event will include over 60 exhibits for senior services including, but not limited to, Social Security Administration, Veterans Services, State & Local Government Agencies, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Seniors vs Crime, Health Insurance Providers, Senior Living, Wellness, and more! The event will also include representatives from the Council on Aging sharing their senior programs, and Baptist Health who will provide information on nutrition, cancer, BMI screenings, and stroke education. 

The event will take place at the Atlantic Recreation Center located at 2500 Atlantic Avenue in Fernandina Beach. If you have any questions, please contact the Council on Aging at (904) 261-0701.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer

2/15/24 @ 1:30 p.m.

The Board of County Commissioners has begun the budgeting process for Fiscal Year 2024/2025.

Nassau County greatly values the benefits and contributions made by non-profit organizations to the community. As such, we would like to extend an invitation to nonprofit organizations serving residents of Nassau County to apply to be considered for funding. To be considered, you must complete a Nonprofit Funding Request Application. This form can be found on the County’s official website at www.nassaucountyfl.com, under the Office of Management and Budget or by this direct link: https://nassaufl.co/NPFundingApplication.

Your funding request must be provided to the Office of Management & Budget located at 96135 Nassau Place, Suite 2, Yulee, FL 32097, by the close of business on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

On Friday, May 17, 2024, a Public Forum will be held for agencies to make a brief presentation regarding your organization and its request. Agencies submitting funding requests will be contacted by the Office of Management & Budget to schedule a time for your presentation.

If you have any questions, please contact Senior Budget Coordinator, Sharon Johns, at (904) 530-6010, Option 2, or via e-mail at [email protected].

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer

2/14/24 @ 9:30 a.m. - At the Monday, February 12, 2024 meeting, the Board approved Proclamation No. 2024-03 in celebration of the Nassau County Council on Aging's 50th Anniversary which takes place on February 15, 2024.  

The COA is a non-profit organization who works to enhance the lives of older adults through services and compassionate care designed to improve the health, independence and economic security of Nassau County seniors and their families. Their programs enable those 60 and older to live independently at home while also providing opportunities for socialization and participation in activities geared toward the needs of seniors. 

Programs/services offered to our seniors include household chores, meal delivery and transportation. The COA also provides Adult Day Healthcare, Advocate Home Healthcare, Chore (small home repairs), Support Groups, Senior Life Centers and more. 

In 2022, the COA provided more than 45,000 meals to seniors, assisted with 22,000 of personal care, companionship, shopping and caregiver respite, and provided 52,000 trips through their transportation services. Additionally, through the COA, nearly 300 volunteers provided over 10,000 hours to Nassau County seniors. 

On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, we congratulate the COA on their 50th Anniversary and extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for their long-time service and dedication to Nassau County residents. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

12/22/23 @ 7:00 a.m. - Congratulations to Keep Nassau Beautiful (KNB) on their recent 2023 Outstanding Project Award for their "Refill Nassau Florida" campaign. The Board of County Commissioners recognized this achievement at their Wednesday, December 20th meeting. 

KNB is a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation, sustainability, and beautification of our community. The reusable cup program launched in November 2022 to reduce the use of single-use plastics. More than 59,000 reusable, refillable, and easily recycled aluminum cups have been distributed to more than 25 restaurants and partner organizations. They can also be found at local festivals and events, including the County's Bicentennial Kick-off Event on January 13, 2024. 

Thank you, Keep Nassau Beautiful, for all you do to keep our County clean, safe and beautiful. 

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer 

11/10/23 @ 11:00 a.m.

​The Community Stewards of Yulee, Inc. is a local non-profit organization who serves the Yulee community by hosting charity events and promoting community engagement. This year, they are hosting a holiday light decorating contest, "Light Up Yulee With Christmas Spirit" and are encouraging businesses along US Highway 17 and State Road 200 in Nassau County to decorate their storefronts. Upload a photo to the organization's FaceBook page anytime between November 24 and December 25, 2023, and the community will vote on their favorite. The winner will be announced in January 2024. 

For additional information, please contact the Community Stewards of Yulee, Inc. at (904) 524-3758 or via email at [email protected]. 

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer

2/3/23 @ 11:15 a.m. 

The Board of County Commissioners has begun the budgeting process for Fiscal Year 2023/2024.

Nassau County greatly values the benefits and contributions made by non-profit organizations to the community. As such, we would like to extend an invitation to nonprofit organizations serving residents of Nassau County to apply to be considered for funding. To be considered, you must complete a Nonprofit Funding Request Application. The application can be found here: https://bit.ly/NFPFundingRequest.   
 
Your funding request must be provided to the Office of Management & Budget located at 96135 Nassau Place, Suite 2, Yulee, FL 32097, by the close of business on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

On Friday, May 19, 2023, a Public Forum will be held for agencies to make a brief presentation regarding your organization and its request. Agencies submitting funding requests will be contacted by the Office of Management & Budget to schedule a time for your presentation.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Sr. Budget Coordinator, Megan Sawyer, at (904) 530-6010, Option 2, or via e-mail at [email protected].  

3/21/22 @ 9:45 a.m. - Please see the below Press Release issued by Keep Nassau Beautiful following their Adopt-a-Tree Event in Callahan last week.

More than 140 Free Trees were distributed in Callahan During Adopt A Tree Drive-Thru Event

** Jonah Blutcher was recognized for his video project: Save The Trees **

Nassau County, Florida, March 16, 2022. Keep Nassau Beautiful (KNB) kicked off its spring 2022 Adopt A Tree drive-thru by hosting an event at the NE FL Fairgrounds in Callahan. Nassau County residents reserved one or two trees from a list of five available Florida friendly species.

13 volunteers, including Nassau County Commissioner Klynt Farmer, OHPA Commissioner and KNB BOD Chair Mike Cole, and Nassau County Arborist Garner Cox, were on hand to help residents load their reserved trees in vehicles. The 1-to-3-gallon trees were 4 to 6 feet in height.

During the event KNB recognized Yulee High School student Jonah Blutcher with a gift card for his TSIC scholarship video project titled, Save The Trees. Blutcher’s video highlights the benefits of trees and his volunteer work with KNB during Adopt A Tree events. The video is posted on YouTube https://youtu.be/Y1bQ2YRHAf8 or from a link on the KNB website: https://keepnassaubeautiful.org/programs/planting-nassaus-future/

Adopt A Tree Drive-thru events are funded through dedicated grants, fundraising activities and private donations. In partnership, the City of Fernandina Beach provides free trees for residents of the City of Fernandina Beach. Liberty Landscape Supply sponsors the supply of trees. UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension provides the educational component. Residents are asked to help the tree get its best chance at a healthy long life by following the UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension recommendations for proper planting and maintenance including a watering schedule until the tree gets established.

For more information [email protected] or 904-261-0165.
Keep Nassau Beautiful, Inc. is working to inspire, educate, and equip individuals, groups, businesses and governments to take action to make Nassau County a place where residents, visitors and wildlife can thrive and experience the beauty of Nassau County. www.keepnassaubeautiful.org