Rep. Chuck Brannan delivered a detailed account of the significant financial support he helped secure for Starke and Bradford County throughout his legislative tenure. Brannan, reflecting on his years in the Florida House, described the process as “Christmas in September” for the community, highlighting the many projects and millions of dollars funneled into the area.
He recounted that in 2023, the city received $2 million for the Starke Economic Impact and Recovery Program and the U.S. 301 bypass project, along with $400,000 for the CityWalk downtown revitalization project. That same year, the county fire department got a new engine ($450,000), a dump truck ($100,000), and over $16.5 million in DOT road resurfacing projects within Bradford County.
In 2024, Brannan’s efforts brought half a million dollars for a new fire station in Brooker, $475,000 for a fire truck, and $1.25 million for the sheriff’s office’s statewide law enforcement radio system. Hampton received $550,000 for water well upgrades and $50,000 each for two city parks. Starke again benefited with another $500,000 for the bypass economic development corridor water project.
Despite a contentious legislative session with $2.5 billion in statewide budget cuts, Brannan proudly noted that Bradford County’s projects remained largely intact. For 2025, he announced $500,000 for courthouse renovations, $900,000 for law enforcement radio upgrades, nearly $1 million for the RJE building modernization, $744,568 for the State Road 100 connectivity project at the airport, and over $8.5 million in DOT resurfacing funds. The county also received $2.3 million from the Small County Resurfacing Assistance Program. Brannan took a photo with city commissioners delivering another $2 million for the bypass utility extension project.
Brannan emphasized that, in total, his efforts brought nearly $53 million to Bradford County, with $4.9 million directly to Starke. He credited teamwork with Sen. Jennifer Bradley and a relentless pursuit of funding, stating, “I root around just as hard as I can to find dollars for you.”
Districtwide, the total this year was $223 million in state funds going to Brannan’s constituents, including the first of three installments for a new elementary school in Lake Butler.
