Your Voice, Our Direction:
What We Heard From Our First Community Survey
Earlier this month, we launched our first-ever community survey and the response was clear: Groveland residents care deeply about where our city is headed and want to be part of shaping the future.
We introduced this new engagement program to give more residents a voice in city decisions through quick, anonymous surveys, helping us better understand your priorities and make more informed choices.
What We Heard – Across the board, several themes rose to the top. Residents told us that public safety, road improvements and managing growth are among the most important priorities for our city. You also emphasized the importance of maintaining quality infrastructure and preserving Groveland’s character as we continue to grow.
Just as important, many of you shared a desire for clear communication and transparency, wanting to stay informed about projects, decisions and how your tax dollars are being used.
One thing stood out: many of you don’t think you’re getting your money’s worth from the taxes you pay. This isn’t surprising, especially given the higher price of groceries and gas right now. We’ll be asking for more specifics in future surveys.
Why It Matters – The results of this and future surveys are more than just feedback: they’re a roadmap. They will help guide how we prioritize projects, allocate resources and plan for the future. Whether it’s investing in roads, expanding public safety services or improving communication, your input is directly shaping the work we do every day.
Keep the Conversation Going – If you haven’t signed up to take the surveys yet, please do so. Groveland works best when we work together and this is one more way we can listen, learn and move forward as one community.
Big Opportunity for Small Businesses – We recently celebrated an important investment in Groveland’s local business community: the groundbreaking of 1st American Way in the Christopher C. Ford Commerce Park.
This new small-bay industrial development will include three buildings with flexible spaces sized between 1,500 and 4,500 s.f. to support day-to-day operations, services and trades that residents rely on. With convenient access to the Turnpike, U.S. 27 and State Road 19, it will help strengthen connections between local businesses and the customers they serve. The first tenants are expected in early 2027.
K-9 Team
Takes Drugs Off Streets – I’d like to take a moment to recognize the outstanding work of our Groveland Police Department, especially K-9 Officer Eastridge and his four-legged partner, Xena.
The 55-pound Belgian Malinois recently helped locate 104 grams of methamphetamine inside an abandoned building. That represents hundreds of individual doses and anyone in possession of that amount would be considered a drug trafficker.
This kind of work often happens behind the scenes, but it plays a critical role in keeping our neighborhoods safe. Our K-9 team is an essential part of that effort, assisting with searches, investigations and crime prevention every day.
Faster Care When Every Second Counts – In an emergency, seconds matter. That’s why Groveland has equipped every fire vehicle with advanced medical capabilities, allowing life-saving care to begin the moment crews arrive.
Our firefighters and EMTs can immediately respond to cardiac events, serious injuries and other medical emergencies with both the tools and training needed to stabilize patients on scene.
The impact of speed is well documented. During cardiac arrest, a person’s chance of survival decreases by 7–10% for every minute without CPR or defibrillation, and faster response times are directly linked to better outcomes.
By investing in advanced care, we’re improving response times and giving people the best possible chance when it matters most.
Private Investment to Pay for Improved Turnpike Interchange – We recently reached an agreement that represents a major milestone for Groveland’s future.
As part of its new master-planned community Brighthill, the Eisenhower Group has committed to funding major improvements to our Turnpike interchange, representing a private investment of $50 to $70 million. The group has already paid $7 million in impact fees. This is a significant partnership that will help advance critical infrastructure without placing that burden on taxpayers.
Improvements to the interchange will enhance mobility along the U.S. 27 corridor, support local businesses and help diversify Groveland’s tax base.
