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Insider Newsletter
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Mayor's Office
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Mayor's Jumpstart Academy (MJA) Graduation
“This week, we celebrated the graduation of this year's incredible cohort of the Mayor’s Jumpstart Academy. Over the past several months, these individuals worked through the process of turning ideas into real business concepts. They learned new skills, built relationships with mentors and peers, and challenged themselves to think bigger about what’s possible.
That’s what the Mayor’s Jumpstart Academy is all about.
This program was created because I believe that entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful tools for expanding opportunity in our City.
When local entrepreneurs succeed neighborhoods grow stronger, jobs are created, innovation thrives, and our entire community benefits. And that’s exactly what we’re building here in West Palm Beach — a community of opportunity for all.
Thank you to the amazing partners who make this program possible. Your mentorship, guidance, and belief in these entrepreneurs are helping turn ideas into real businesses that will shape the future of our City.
Congratulations to our 2026 graduates! We look forward to watching your businesses grow and to seeing the impact you will make in our community.” — Mayor Keith A. James
Florida Bicycle Month Proclamation | March 2026
"During this week's City Commission Meeting, we were proud to recognize Florida Bicycle Month and the important role bicycling plays in promoting healthy lifestyles, sustainable transportation, and stronger communities.
Our City recognizes bicycling as a safe, environmentally friendly way for residents and visitors to travel — while also providing an excellent opportunity for recreation and physical activity. With this philosophy in mind, the City is currently updating the City's Bicycle Master Plan with the goal of expanding the network of low-stress bike routes to daily destinations and prioritizing the implementation of low-stress intersections.
Creating a bicycle-friendly community improves quality of life, supports tourism and economic activity, enhances traffic safety, and helps reduce congestion and pollution on our streets.
Thank you to Brian Ruscher, Deputy Director of Multimodal of the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Nicholas Bixler, Executive Director of Connect West Palm Beach, for accepting this proclamation." — Mayor Keith A. James
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Week Without Driving Proclamation | March 16 – 22
"We were also proud to recognize Week Without Driving, an initiative that encourages residents and community leaders to better understand the transportation challenges many people face every day.
Members of our community — including students, older adults, individuals with disabilities and residents of varying income levels — rely on a variety of transportation options to access employment, education, healthcare, groceries, recreation, and essential services throughout our community.
Understanding the range of transportation choices available — including RideWPB, walking, bicycling, Tri-Rail, Brightline, and Palm Tran — helps empower individuals to make informed decisions about how they move throughout our City.
Week Without Driving encourages individuals, families, businesses, schools, and community leaders to experience daily life without the use of a personal vehicle in order to better understand the opportunities and challenges faced by many residents.
Reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation is essential for many members of our community, and this initiative helps us better understand transportation challenges, identify gaps, and highlight opportunities to build a more inclusive and accessible city.
Thank you to Amelia Sherfield, Program Director with WPBgo, for accepting this award."
— Mayor Keith A. James
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Annual West Palm Beach Police Awards Brunch
"It was truly an honor to attend this year’s Annual West Palm Beach Police Awards Brunch — a celebration of courage, commitment, and community.
Thank you to THE FUND of West Palm Beach Police for helping put this event together and for all that you do. Your mission is simple but powerful — to enhance public safety and strengthen community bonds by providing support and appreciation to the men and women of the West Palm Beach Police Department. In doing so, you strengthen their ability to protect and serve our community.
Thank you to the board, donors, and volunteers for ensuring our officers and professional staff are supported, equipped to perform at the highest level, and recognized for their service to our community.
And thank you to the outstanding men and women of the West Palm Beach Police Department for your professionalism, dedication, and commitment to service.
I ran for Mayor on the belief that public safety is the number one responsibility of this office, and I believe that just as strongly today. West Palm Beach would not be the city it is today without our shared commitment to keeping our community safe each and every day."
— Mayor Keith A. James
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WPB-TV
NEW City Center Podcast Episode!
Not every city has its own portal to the past. A place where nature remains largely undisturbed and the landscape looks much like it did hundreds of years ago.
Grassy Waters Preserve is one of those rare places — and during this City Center Podcast episode, we’re exploring all it has to offer visitors and the vital role it plays in the health of West Palm Beach.
Watch the full episode of "Grassy Waters Preserve: Our Precious Portal to the Past" now on the WPBTV YouTube page! Or listen to the new episode during your commute! Now streaming on:
St. Patrick's Day festivities start a few days early in downtown West Palm Beach, with a street festival on Clematis Street — and lots of people wearing green!
Watch the "St. Patrick's Day Festivities in Downtown West Palm Beach" video now.
Kids are having the time of their lives during Spring Break Camp at the Pleasant City, South Olive, and Gaines Park Community Centers! They're participating in a variety of activities, going on field trips, and spending time with their friends.
Watch the "Spring Break Camp Keeps WPB Kids Active and Happy" video now!
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Community Highlights & Happenings
City of West Palm Beach & CRA Honored to Receive $2 Million in Federal Appropriations to Support Fern Street Extension Project!
Recently, the City's CRA Director Chris Roog joined U.S. Representative Lois Frankel at an exciting press conference announcing FY26 Community Project Funding. The City of West Palm Beach and the West Palm Beach CRA were honored to receive $2 million in federal appropriationsto support the Fern Street Extension Project, a transformative investment that will enhance connectivity, improve mobility, and advance continued revitalization in West Palm Beach.
This critical infrastructure project will strengthen access for residents and businesses, foster a more connected and vibrant community, and create new opportunities for economic development. We are grateful to Congresswoman Frankel for her partnership and advocacy in helping bring meaningful investments like this in our community!
The City's Office of Small Business Programs Receives Inclusifi Joseph C. Bova Award
The Mayor’s Office of Small Business Programs was honored at the recent annual InclusiFi Annual Shareholders meeting in West Palm Beach for its commitment to meeting the needs of small businesses. InclusiFi executives presented the 2026 Joseph C. Bova Award to Frank Hayden, director of the West Palm Beach Office of Small Business Programs.
The City sponsors multiple free training programs aimed at helping small businesses grow and thrive within West Palm Beach. The City helps small businesses with financial and operational training programs, including how to get certified as a Small Business for City. Certification allows a business to bid on City contracts and projects. Over the past few years, several small business operators have successfully bid and been awarded City contracts.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the heart of our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Keith A. James. “Through the Office of Small Business Programs, we are empowering entrepreneurs with the tools, training, and opportunities they need to grow, compete, and succeed. When small businesses thrive, West Palm Beach thrives — and we remain committed to being a community of opportunity for all.”
These training opportunities are available to small businesses located within the City of West Palm Beach. For more information and a list of current offerings, visit the City's Office of Small Business Programs webpage.
My Streetscape Summer Research Institute | Opportunity for Rising Seniors
High school juniors in West Palm Beach are invited to apply for the My Streetscape Summer Research Institute, an interdisciplinary program focused on urban technology and community trust. Organized by the Center for Smart Streetscapes in partnership with the West Palm Beach CRA, Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering at Florida Atlantic University, the program gives rising seniors the opportunity to work alongside university faculty and mentors while exploring how technology shapes modern cities.
Students will gain hands-on research experience in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, computer vision, Internet of Things (IoT), transportation engineering, and community-focused design.
The program runs June 29 through August 7, 2026, with in-person sessions held in West Palm Beach Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will earn $17 per hour and take part in professional development workshops and field trips.
Eligible applicants must be current 11th graders (rising seniors), U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and attend a Palm Beach County high school. Applications for Summer 2026 are open now through March 31, 2026.
Apply now!
Nights in Northwood Village | March 27
Get ready for Nights in Northwood Village on Friday, March 27 from 6 – 9 p.m. This vibrant night market experience features 50+ vendors offering art, fashion, handmade goods, vintage finds, and local eats — plus live music and entertainment!
While your shopping, stop to enjoy the Wonderama band — a five-member, high-energy group from South Florida! In each of their shows, the group performs a “one-of-a-kind” sound by fusing the most popular songs mixed with classic favorites.
This is a FREE event, so bring your friends, family, and neighbors!
Join the West Palm Beach Police Department for the 10th Annual Run with the Cops 5K
The West Palm Beach Police Department invites the community to participate in the 10th Annual Run with the Cops 5K.
On Sunday, April 12, 2026, nearly 100 officers and professional staff from the department will run, walk, and jog alongside residents on a certified 5K course along the Intracoastal Waterway on South Flagler Drive.
Part of the Palm Beaches Race Series, the event also features a Kids Dash (100 yards), a Youth Sunrise Sprint (1 mi.), and a 5K virtual run!
Proceeds from the Run with the Cops 5K benefit THE FUND for West Palm Beach Police, which provides direct services for officers and supports community programs such as Shop with a Cop, National Night Out, Cops & Scholars, and other initiatives that strengthen connections between officers and the community.
Learn more and register now!
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*Click the image above to watch the meeting!
Next City Commission Meeting
The next scheduled City Commission meeting is March 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. in City Hall, 401 Clematis Street.
Commission meetings are held every other Monday, except for holidays, and the public is encouraged to attend.
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Submit Service Requests with the WPB Key Portal
Submitting a service request has never been easier — access City Hall right in the palm of your hands! Sign in online or download the app. *Accessible in Español, Kreyòl Ayisyen, and Português.
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CITY NEWS | STAY INFORMED
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SPEND TIME IN WEST PALM BEACH
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Upcoming City Events
Clematis by Night: Sistas of the '70s | 3/19 |
6 – 9 p.m.
West Palm Beach GreenMarket: 3/21 | 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
*There is no WPB GreenMarket on 3/28 during the Palm Beach International Boat Show.
Learn more about City Events!
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Grassy Waters Preserve | 8264 Northlake Blvd.
Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach | 411 Clematis St.
Enjoy four floors of books, programs, exciting tech, and more! There's something for everyone. Sign up for the library's newsletter! | View the calendar.
File your taxes for free at the library!
*Available if you earned $78,000 or less in 2025.
The Taxes Filed Free Campaign provides free, confidential, and secure preparation and e-filing of tax returns to qualified taxpayers. For more information, please visit the library's Taxes Filed Free section on the website.
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Office of Sustainability | Events & More
Participate in initiatives and events that reflect the City's mission to provide a healthy, equitable, environmentally progressive, resilient, and ecologically sustainable community for all! Subscribe to the newsletter; and explore the calendar.
April 11 | e4 Life: Green, Health & Wellness Expo
- Cox Science Center and Aquarium
- 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- City of West Palm Beach residents and City of West Palm Beach employees receive 50% off admission!
April 11 | Rain Barrel Giveaway
- Cox Science Center and Aquarium Parking Lot
- 9 – 10:30 a.m.
- Registration is required.
April 23 | Arbor Day Native Tree Giveaway
- Gaines Park Community Center Parking Lot
- 4:30 – 6 p.m.
- Registration is required.
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Connect with the City!
Interested in working for the City of West Palm Beach?
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Questions? Contact us at (561) 822-2222 (TTY:800-955-8771)
City Directory
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