HomeLocal governmentForward Focus: Eastern Alachua County’s next community listening session in Melrose

Forward Focus: Eastern Alachua County’s next community listening session in Melrose

April 29, 2025

Press release from Alachua County

MELROSE, Fla. – The Alachua County Commission continues its community listening sessions for the Forward Focus initiative. The next listening session is on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Melrose United Methodist Church (5807 Hampton St., Melrose). The listening session begins at 9 a.m.

The Forward Focus: Eastern Alachua County initiative is designed to enhance quality of life, boost economic opportunities, and address community needs in eastern Alachua County. Following productive meetings in Hawthorne, Waldo, Micanopy, Monteocha, and Island Grove/Cross Creek, the project team will hold an additional session in Melrose the first weekend of May. All Alachua County residents, community leaders, and business owners are encouraged to attend.

Attendees will learn more about the Forward Focus project goals and timeline at the meeting. They can also provide feedback and network with neighbors and local leaders.

These community listening sessions are crucial for developing a comprehensive strategy to address this region’s unique needs and aspirations. Following the Melrose session, the Forward Focus team plans to host their next listening session in the Windsor/Rochelle area in June, with more details to come.

“We have found our community listening sessions to be extremely helpful in identifying opportunities across eastern Alachua County,” said Assistant County Manager Missy Daniels, who is leading the Forward Focus team. “We’re looking forward to hearing from Melrose next, and we encourage everyone to participate in these important conversations.”

View the comments and feedback the Forward Focus team has collected.

Learn more about the project and provide comments directly to the County.

  • County Commission, listening sessions! 😢
    It goes in ALL THEIR EAR’S and OUT THE OTHER EAR! NOTHING GETS DONE! Again another waste of Taxpayer $$$! FIX THE ROADS!🙄😳

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  • I appreciate this effort. I do agree that for me and my family, the roads are the primary concern. They are falling apart with the exception of SR 20 – that one is in good shape.

    Other than that, making sure that parking lots are safe would be helpful for local businesses. I drive past some stores to go farther away to areas that aren’t so intimidating. Loitering in parking lots (like WalMart on Waldo Road) is a problem in eastern Alachua County. I do feel bad for the business owners.

    Part of the food insecurity problem has to do with shoplifting. If a grocery store (or any other kind of store) can’t be profitable, it won’t last. The now empty Food Lion store on Hawthorne Road was the last of a few attempts to have a grocery store located in that building. Not sure how to fix that issue, but it’s a big problem, and companies should not be expected to take a loss, just to have closer options for people. I think law enforcement for small infractions might be key to turn that around.

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