It’s an exciting time to live in the Glades communities of South Bay, Belle Glade and Pahokee. Local cases of COVID-19 are declining like those across the state, vaccination supplies are increasing, and our local economy is growing. Overall, there is a renewed sense of unity and optimism.

Recently, it was announced that Orlando-based Finfrock is opening a 140,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Belle Glade and creating 200 jobs. This is a welcome addition to our agricultural economy and a credit to our local leaders that continue to make job creation a priority. Special thanks to Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, Kelly Smallridge with Palm Beach County Business Development Board, and leaders from Palm Beach State College and the Palm Beach County School District, which are helping to fill some of the current job openings. In addition to this exciting project, there are several new exciting economic development projects on the horizon, with the promise of even more jobs and career opportunities for our communities. You need not look further than Highway 80 or Main Street in Belle Glade to see all of the new construction and renovations to local businesses currently taking place.

Our region is blessed to also have a strong and vibrant agricultural sector, which in addition to providing jobs and ongoing support for the Glades communities, also helps grow the food Americans depend on this time of year. Fresh food such as sweet corn, green beans, leafy greens, romaine lettuce, radishes, cabbage, rice and of course sugarcane continues to grow throughout western Palm Beach County and help nourish up to 180 million Americans this year.

Throughout the pandemic, our cities partnered with local farmers, churches and food banks to help distribute food and supplies to those in need. It was wonderful to see so many come together to lend a hand (socially distanced), help with setting up food distribution and testing sites, and helping one another whenever possible.

Thanks to agriculture, we also are providing many sustainable jobs, such as are using sugarcane fiber to produce compostable and eco-friendly tableware products such as plates, bowls, and take-out containers. This is a great example of how local employers are utilizing renewable materials sourced locally to produce products with the environment in mind. All our sugar mills are powered with sustainable, renewable energy created from sugarcane stalks.

In a sign of unity in our Glades communities, voters recently elected three pro-agriculture, pro-jobs candidates and rejected some of the divisive tactics deployed by outside groups such as the Sierra Club that do not have our cities’ best interests in mind. We are looking forward to working with this new crop of leaders as we prioritize issues such as affordable housing, education, public safety and healthcare.

We consider ourselves blessed to live in an area with abundant sunshine, clean air and water, and bountiful muck soils that provide for so many. The Glades are like one big family, and we pride ourselves on our togetherness.

As you make your way to western Palm Beach County in the future, do not hesitate to stop in our restaurants or businesses tied to recreation. Our boat ramps, tackle shops and recreation areas remain open for your business!

The authors are the mayors of South Bay, Belle Glade, and Pahokee.