Brevard County officials announced Thursday they have received a $700,000 grant from the Florida Division of Statewide Automated Resources to expand immigration-related services. The funding will support programs that assist immigrants with legal aid, language access, and community integration. The announcement comes as the county's population of immigrants and refugees continues to grow, according to county records.
County Administrator John Hitt said the grant will help address a rising demand for services. 'We’ve seen a 25% increase in immigration-related inquiries over the past two years,' Hitt said in a statement. 'This funding will allow us to hire additional staff and improve our outreach efforts.' The money will also be used to update the county’s multilingual website and expand partnerships with local nonprofits.
The grant is part of a state initiative to distribute $12 million across Florida counties for immigration support. Brevard County’s share will be used specifically for legal clinics, citizenship workshops, and emergency assistance for newly arrived residents. County officials said the program will prioritize families fleeing violence or seeking asylum.
Local advocates welcomed the funding but emphasized ongoing challenges. 'While this is a positive step, we still need more resources to meet the needs of our community,' said Maria Gonzalez, director of the Brevard Immigrant Resource Center. 'Many immigrants are still unaware of the services available to them.'
The county plans to begin distributing the funds in early 2024. Officials said the program will be evaluated annually to ensure it meets the needs of residents. No specific timeline was given for when additional funding might be requested.