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TALLAHASSEE - County leaders, business owners, school district leaders and municipal leaders arrived at the State Capitol to celebrate Clay Day, an occasion to collaborate with our state legislatures and deliver a wish list for projects throughout Clay County.

“The event was a huge success. The Clay delegation was over 200 attendees,” said Jon Cantrell, President of the Clay Chamber of Commerce.

“The County and Chamber of Commerce did a great job. It was a first-class program,” said Florida Representative Sam Garrison.

“Senator Jennifer Bradley, House Representatives Bobby Payne and ‘DD’ Sam Garrison helped set the stage for a great event at the Capital. Wednesday began with an open-air event on the Capital Plaza. The Clay County Southern Rock Theme was a hit with all in attendance,” Cantrell said.

Cantrell said the jumbo screen clips featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet and 38 Special were a nod to the cultural legacy of Clay County.

Some of the appropriations requests sought to improve infrastructure, parks and recreational facilities, public safety and libraries:

• The County is seeking funding for safety improvements and extensions to CR 209, 218, 220, 217 and SR 16.

• The County is interested in developing a Clay County Regional Sports Complex – which would offer multi-use fields, volleyball courts, cross-country trails and more – better access to Moccasin Slough Park and better access to Veterans Park.

• The county is eager to work with the State on Phase 2 of the Black Creek Water Resource Development Project, which aims to restore and refill Lake Geneva and other surrounding lakes.

• The county is requesting funds for two fire stations and a library in Oakleaf Plantation.

• Most notably, the county made a request for a $10 million Public Safety and Law Enforcement Complex.

“We’re looking into the public safety complex building, and it was one of the requests we filled. We’re also looking at funding for roadways. The county is growing, so we’re advocating state funds to keep up with infrastructure (needs),” said Garrison.

To “sweeten” the pitch, the delegation delivered appropriation promotional material alongside boxes of cookies from Green Cove Springs’ Sweet Sensations.

“The Sweet Sensation cookie box was fun to do, and it highlights small business in the county,” Garrison said.