Notices

Manatee County Set to Celebrate Independence Day 2026

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (June 29, 2026) -- Manatee County is celebrating Independence Day. All Manatee County Government offices and Manatee County Public Library System locations will be closed Friday, July 3, 2026.

All trash, recycling, yard waste and bulk collection services will operate on their normal schedules and will not be affected by the holiday. The Lena Road Landfill will be open Friday, July 3, and closed Saturday, July 4, in observance of the holiday. Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) fixed-route and Handy Bus services will operate on their normal schedules Friday, July 3, and will not operate Saturday, July 4. The Anna Maria Island Trolley will operate on its normal daily schedule Saturday, July 4, while the Manatee Avenue Beach Express will operate on a holiday schedule.

Manatee County parks and beaches will be open to the public. Manatee County Golf Course and Buffalo Creek Golf Course will be open. Manatee County’s natural preserves will remain open. G.T. Bray Recreation Center and John Marble Recreation Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4. Walton Racquet Center will be closed, and all check-ins will take place at the main building. The pools at John Marble Recreation Center, G.T. Bray Recreation Center and Lincoln Aquatic Center will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free swim sessions will be offered from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m. on July 3, 4 and 5. All aquatic centers will operate in two-hour sessions throughout the day.

The cities of Bradenton and Palmetto are joining forces with the County to host a riverfront celebration that spans both sides of the Green Bridge. Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, with both Rossi Park in Bradenton and Riverside Park in Palmetto serving as activity hubs offering a full evening of live entertainment, family-friendly activities, local food and a dazzling shared fireworks finale over the Manatee River at approximately 9:10 p.m.

The Green Bridge will close to traffic at 8:30 p.m. on July 4 and reopen following the fireworks finale. Road closures and parking limits are expected in both cities.

For more information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.  

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Manatee County Information Outreach

NEWS line: (941) 745-6397 (NEWS)

news@mymanatee.org

Manatee County Enacts Countywide Burn Ban Due to Dry Conditions

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (June 23, 2026) - Due to ongoing hot and dry weather conditions and an elevated wildfire risk, Manatee County has enacted a countywide burn ban, effective immediately.

Manatee County Emergency Management officials say the ban includes any item containing an explosive compound, sparklers, products using or containing pyrotechnic composition, flares, open burning and campfires due to increasingly dry conditions.

The following activities will continue to be allowed under the burn ban:

• Outdoor cookers or grills, provided they are attended at all times by a responsible adult while in use

• Liquefied petroleum gas devices such as grills, camp stoves, fire pits or other devices that solely burn liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, butane, naphthalene or other liquid fuel, provided they are attended by a responsible adult at all times

• Agricultural, silvicultural and land-clearing burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service when sufficient fire suppression equipment and personnel are on site

• Properly permitted public fireworks displays with adequate fire suppression equipment and personnel on site

• Flares discharged over the Gulf

All previously permitted public fireworks displays will continue as scheduled and remain subject to existing fire safety requirements.

"It only takes one spark to start a fire under these conditions," said Emergency Management Chief Matt Myers. "We encourage everyone to avoid activities that could unintentionally ignite a fire and to follow the burn ban until conditions improve."

The burn ban will remain in effect until further notice.

For more information, visit mymanatee.org/burnban.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or contact Manatee County Government Communications at news@mymanatee.org or call (941) 745-6397 (NEWS). Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.

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Manatee County Information Outreach

NEWS line: (941) 745-6397 (NEWS)

news@mymanatee.org

Manatee County to Open Animal Welfare Resource Center, Expanding Access to Community Pet Care

MANATEE COUNTY, FL. (June 10, 2026) — Manatee County will celebrate the opening of its new Animal Welfare Resource Center on June 17, expanding access to affordable and no-cost veterinary services for residents to help keep pets healthy, housed, and out of shelters.

“The Animal Welfare Resource Center represents a major investment in both animal welfare and the families who love their pets,” said George Kruse, Manatee County commissioner. “By increasing access to preventive veterinary care, we can help residents keep their pets at home, reduce shelter intake, and build a stronger, more compassionate community.”

Made possible through a $305,750 grant award from the Bishop-Parker Foundation, pending formal acceptance by the Board of County Commissioners and execution of the necessary agreements, the CARE Program will provide spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and basic wellness services to qualifying residents, rescue organizations, and high-need animal populations.

A separate $50,000 grant previously accepted by the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners from the Manatee Community Foundation also provided critical medical equipment needed to support veterinary services at the center.

The center will serve as the home of the CARE Program (Community Animal Resource & Enhancement), a new initiative designed to provide targeted veterinary services to underserved communities throughout Manatee County. The program is expected to directly benefit approximately 1,000 to 2,000 residents and 2,500 to 4,000 animals annually while helping reduce pet surrender, prevent unwanted litters, and alleviate pressure on local shelters.

“Animal welfare starts long before a pet enters a shelter,” said Michael Strollo, communications coordinator for Manatee County Community and Veterans Services. “This center gives families access to the resources they need to care for their pets while helping create better outcomes across our community.”

Manatee County will officially open the Animal Welfare Resource Center during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. on June 17th at 401 17th Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205.

For more information about Manatee County Animal Welfare programs and services, visit mymanatee.org/pets.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or contact Manatee County Government Communications at news@mymanatee.org or call (941) 745-6397 (NEWS). Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.

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Manatee County Information Outreach

NEWS line: (941) 745-6397 (NEWS)

news@mymanatee.org

Manatee County Opens Applications for $1.2 Million Housing Repair Program

Applications now open for eligible home repairs, accessibility upgrades, and replacement assistance.

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (May 06, 2026) – Manatee County has opened applications for $1.2 million in housing rehabilitation and replacement assistance for eligible low- and very low-income households through The State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program.

“For many residents, a needed repair or accessibility improvement is not a luxury,” said George Kruse, Manatee County District 7 commissioner at-large. “This program helps remove some of those barriers and gives families the opportunity to improve their living conditions in a meaningful, lasting way allowing them to stay safely in the home they already have.”

The funding, available through the county’s SHIP Housing Rehabilitation/Replacement Program, will help qualifying homeowners complete critical repairs, accessibility upgrades, and other improvements that allow them to remain safely and independently in their homes.

Eligible households must be in unincorporated Manatee County or the City of Palmetto and meet program income and property value requirements. To qualify as a special needs household, at least one member of the home must have a developmental disability, disabling condition, or receive SSD/SSDI or other disability benefits.

The program provides 0% interest-deferred payment 20-year loans for code-related repairs to single-family homes and, in some cases, the replacement of dilapidated single-family housing structures. Funding may also support home modifications, adaptive devices, and other improvements that enhance accessibility, safety, and overall livability.

“These improvements can directly affect someone’s daily quality of life,” said Michael Strollo, Manatee County Community and Veterans Services communications coordinator. “Whether it’s addressing a serious repair or making a home more accessible, this program is designed to help households remain safer, more stable, and better supported.”

Entry forms are now available on Manatee County’s Rehabilitation / Replacement Program webpage. Residents who need help completing or submitting an online entry form can call (941) 749-3029.

Applications will be accepted through May 15, 2026, and county staff will conduct a lottery-style drawing on May 19, 2026, to determine the order in which applications will be reviewed. Funding will be awarded to eligible households who meet all requirements until all available funds have been committed.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or contact Manatee County Government Communications at news@mymanatee.org or call (941) 745-6397 (NEWS). Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.

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Manatee County Information Outreach

NEWS line: (941) 745-6397 (NEWS)

news@mymanatee.org

Manatee County Opens Applications for $550,000 Housing Repair Program Serving Special Needs Households

Applications now open for eligible home repairs, accessibility upgrades, and replacement assistance.

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (April 14, 2026) — Manatee County opened applications today for more than $550,000 in housing rehabilitation and replacement assistance for eligible low- and very low-income special needs households.

“For many residents, a needed repair or accessibility improvement is not a luxury,” said Geroge Kruse, Manatee County commissioner at large. “This program helps remove some of those barriers and gives families the opportunity to improve their living conditions in a meaningful, lasting way allowing them to stay safely in the home they already have."

The funding, available through the County’s SHIP Housing Rehabilitation/Replacement Program, will help qualifying homeowners complete critical repairs, accessibility upgrades, and other improvements that allow them to remain safely and independently in their homes.

Eligible households must be in unincorporated Manatee County or the City of Palmetto and meet program income and property value requirements. To qualify as a special needs household, at least one member of the home must have a developmental disability, disabling condition, or receive SSD/SSDI or other disability benefits.

The program provides 0% interest-deferred payment 20-year loans for code-related repairs to single-family homes and, in some cases, the replacement of dilapidated single-family housing structures. Funding may also support home modifications, adaptive devices, and other improvements that enhance accessibility, safety, and overall livability.

“These improvements can directly affect someone’s daily quality of life,” said Michael Strollo, Manatee County Community and Veterans Services communications coordinator. “Whether it’s addressing a serious repair or making a home more accessible, this program is designed to help households remain safer, more stable, and better supported.”

Entry forms are now available on Manatee County’s Rehabilitation/ Replacement Program webpage. Residents who need help completing or submitting an online entry form can call (941) 749-3029.

Applications will be accepted through April 29, 2026, and county staff will conduct a lottery-style drawing on May 1, 2026, to determine the order in which applications will be reviewed. Funding will be awarded to eligible households who meet all requirements until all available funds have been committed.

For more information, including eligibility requirements, visit www.mymanatee.org.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or contact Manatee County Government Communications at news@mymanatee.org or call (941) 745-6397 (NEWS). Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGo