For the first time since it was incorporated more than a century ago, Vero Beach is seeking direct federal help for five high-dollar projects through the congressional appropriations “earmark” process. Four of the projects are on the barrier island.
“We broke new ground at the city this year,” City Manager Monte Falls said at a city council meeting last month, noting that Vero has applied for a total of $23.5 million in federal funds. “I believe this is the first time we have ever made a federal appropriation request.”
The city has used federal disaster relief funding from FEMA and received federal and state funds through grants many times, but earmarks are different…