Community and Opportunity

Community and Opportunity

West Palm Beach is a City of involvement, opportunity and growth with a sense of community. The character of the City is shaped by the people, the neighborhoods and the businesses. Mayor Keith A. James believes in highlighting the best of the best, welcoming community improvements, visitors and honoring the past.

Tributes, proclamations, groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, and welcoming new businesses and organizations as they set down roots is a small part of making West Palm Beach a community of opportunity for all. It is with great pride that the City gets involved, stays involved and welcomes all.

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ServiceNow Announces Plans in West Palm Beach 

Stephen Ross, Chairman, CEO, Related Ross, Mayor Keith A. James, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Bill McDermott, Service Now CEO (photo courtesy Related Ross | Lila Photo)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry leader ServiceNow announced plans for an 850+ employee hub to be anchored in CityPlace, the Related Ross economic and commercial center in Downtown West Palm Beach.

Mayor Keith A. James worked tirelessly with executives of Related Ross, ServiceNow, the State of Florida and federal government to bring the industry giant to the City. Among the ServiceNow clients served are the National Hockey League (NHL), Deloitte, KPMG, Lenovo, IBM, Kraft Heinz, educational institutions, government and numerous international corporations. 

 

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Hispanic Heritage Month Honorees

2025 Hispanic Heritage Proclamation Recipients, from left, Claudia Mendoza, Estrella Parada, Caroline Villanueva, Rick Gonzalez, Father Frank O’Loughlin, and Michelle Oyola McGovern

 

Annually, the City of West Palm Beach pays respect and tribute to the members of the Hispanic community who have dedicated their lives to improving conditions for West Palm Beach residents and immigrants. Mayor Keith A. James started these tributes in 2023 to honor, and highlight the successes and contributions of Hispanic residents and businesspersons. Each City Commissioner is asked to select one deserving person who has contributed to the Hispanic community. 

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North Shore Pedestrian Bridge

The City of West Palm Beach worked with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (TPA) to bring a much-needed pedestrian bridge to the North Shore community. Prior to the new 12-foot wide span, children and pedestrians had to navigate a bridge crossing with minimal buffer between vehicles and foot traffic. City Administrator Faye Johnson joined the ribbon-cutting ceremonies in place of Mayor Keith A. James at the September 5, 2025, event.

North Shore Neighborhood Association past president, Leslie Perry, left, and current president, James Walderon, right, did the honors as West Palm Beach City Commissioners Christy Fox, Cathleen Ward and Christine Lambert, City Manager Faye Johnson, Valerie Neilson, Transportation Planning Agency, and FDOT officials look on. 

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Taking Pride in Welcoming new
West Palm Beach Firefighters

Mayor Keith A. James and West Palm Beach Fire Chief Diana Matty are joined by the Fire Academy Class 25-01. From left, Firefighter Michael Truyo, Firefighter Dalton Pohl, Mayor James, Chief Matty, Firefighter Sinead O'Donnell, Firefighter Jake Mendez, and Firefighter Norlan Gutierrez. 

The City of West Palm Beach welcomed five new firefighters to the ranks on Thursday, August 28, 2025, in ceremonies at Gaines Park. The graduating class included two legacy firefighters, whose fathers are active or retired from the fire service. 

 

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Welcome Amerant Bank

Mayor Keith A. James, center, cuts the ribbon to officially open the new Amerant Bank office in West Palm Beach. In on the event are, from left, Jesse Flowers, Amerant Bank Regional President,  Carlos Iafigliola, Amerant Bank Senior Exec VP and COO, Jessica Rivera, Amerant Bank Vice President, Marketing Manager, Branch Manager, Mayor James, Braden Smith, Amerant Bank Senior Exec VP, Chief Consumer Banking Officer, Tairis Alsina, Amerant Bank Head of Retail and Private Banking, and Dayron Jimenez, Amerant Bank Regional Sales Manager.

Amerant Bank is one of the newest financial institutions to set down roots in the City's downtown area. Regional and corporate banking officials opened their new office at 525 Okeechobee Boulevard. At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Mayor James commented: 

"It’s a pleasure to welcome Amerant Bank to the great City of West Palm Beach. Your decision to establish this as your Palm Beach County Regional Headquarters is a clear vote of confidence in our city, our people, and our future. 

This new banking center brings more than financial services — it’s an investment in our local economy. You’re creating jobs, equipping residents and businesses with the tools to succeed, and strengthening our City’s foundation through greater opportunity and access.

On behalf of the City of West Palm Beach, welcome to our diverse, ever-evolving community — together, we're building a more vibrant, prosperous, and inclusive future for every resident, business, and neighborhood in our great City." 

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Ukraine Independence Day

Mayor Keith A. James joined with the Ukrainian Association of Florida to proclaim Sunday, August 24, 2025, as Ukraine Independence Day in the City of West Palm Beach. Ukraine gained it's independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. The Association will celebrate 34 years of Ukrainian Independence Saturday, August 23, 2025, with the annual Ukrainian Cultural Fest, 4-9 p.m. on the Great Lawn along the West Palm Beach Waterfront.

Mayor Keith A. James presents the proclamation to Ukrainian Association of Florida President Dmytro Bozhko in a celebration at the West Palm Beach City Hall on August 13, 2025. Participating in the ceremony are, from left, Larysa Shlyapina, Natalia Bozhko, Dmytro Bozhko, Mayor Keith A. James, Yliia Dryhybka and Liubov Maniuk.

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Hunger Action Month

For almost a half-century, Feeding South Florida has been addressing hunger and food insecurity within the City of West Palm Beach and throughout South Florida. Feeding South Florida and food banks throughout the nation will be participating in the month-long “Go Orange” campaign in September 2025, to raise awareness of the need to fight against hunger.

Mayor Keith A. James proclaimed September as “Hunger Action Month” to heighten the awareness of this need.

 

Mayor Keith A. James with Allyson Vaulx, Feeding South Florida Assistant Vice President of Philanthropy

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Welcome Tacos del Cartel to Clematis Street

"It’s always a great day when we get to welcome a new business to our vibrant Downtown — and this week, we officially welcomed Tacos del Cartel to 533 Clematis Street. This is their very first Florida location, and we couldn’t be more excited to have them join our West Palm Beach family.

Founded in 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, Tacos del Cartel is a story of resilience and vision. Husband-and-wife duo Danny Cruz and Vilexys Salas have blended cultural storytelling, bold flavors, immersive design, and warm hospitality to create something truly special — a dining experience that’s as memorable as it is delicious," said Mayor Keith A. James in welcoming the City's newest restaurant.

Mayor Keith A. James cuts the ribbon as owners Danny Cruz, on Mayor's right, and Vilexys Salas, on Mayor's left, look on with a host of well wishers.

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You may still view a few of the past events.