

GROW COMMUNITY TEACHING & DEMONSTRATION GARDEN
The Grow Community Teaching & Demonstration Garden's purpose is not only to teach how to grow fruits and vegetables, but also agribusiness courses to start your own cottage industry, health fairs, special events, guest speakers, culinary arts, cultural programs, and more. Funded by Florida Blue, T-Mobile, US Department of Agriculture, Florida Division of Forestry, US Division of Forestry, Whole Kids, Seminole Brighton Council, Mason G. Smoak Foundation, ADuda, Lake Placid Noon Rotary, friends and supporters.
GROW COMMUNITY TEACHING & DEMONSTRATION GARDEN PROGRESS



US HWY 27 S VETERANS MEMORIAL

3rd Wele Youth Camp - "Financial Freedom"
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM - IN AFFILIATION WITH HICORIA PINES HOMES
WWW.HPHOMES.ORG


AWARD WINNING KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL & KEEP FLORIDA BEAUTIFUL AFFILIATE
Florida Forestry Grant
FL Division of Agriculture & Consumer Services
$5000 TREE PLANTING GRANT APRIL 2023


$15,000 Florida Blue (2021)
$3,500 Mason G. Smoak Foundation (2022)
$3,000 Whole Kids Foundation (2022)
$2,500 Seminole Brighton Council (2022)
$50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grant 2022
$15,900 US Department of Agriculture (2023)
$5,000 Florida Department of Agriculture - FL Forestry Grant (2023)
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TREE PLANTING
- GROW COMMUNITY GARDEN
- VILLAGE GREEN RESOURCE CENTER
IN THE NEWS
Aisha Alayande Interviewed by Audrey Asciutto

2022 Highlands County 501c3 of the year !!

Working to enhance, and preserve, the Highway Park Community through various initiatives including economic revitalization, poverty mitigation programs, environmental (Great American Cleanups, restoration of historic buildings, tree planting, educational programs), Wele Youth Leadership Program (county -wide), Veterans (US Hwy 27 S Veterans Memorial), financial literacy workshops, GED programs, food distribution support, Senior Citizens projects, health fairs & projects, arts & cultural programs, Humanities programs from FL Humanities, Hicoria Pines Homes (county-wide), Guidewell Innovations winners 2021, USDA 502 Certified Packagers (Low to very low-income 1st time homebuyers program for all of Highlands County), Village Green Community Resource Center (computer training, job support, business incubator), Teaching & Demonstration Garden planned for 2023, One Step For Life Health programs (MLK JR. Sports Field improvements for health & exercise). Funding for initiatives sponsored in part by: AARP, T-Mobile Home Town Grant, and our multi-year sponsors; ADuda, Alan Jay Automotive, Alice Consulting Services, Audrey Asciutto, Bert Harris (Harris & Swain Attorneys), Callahan Transport, Charles Reynolds Foundation, Chris Rider, Darnell Smith, Elaine Strong, Florida Blue Foundation's Healthy Communities, Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Humanities Council, FL Division of Forestry & FL Division of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Gene & Janice Allen, Greg Reynolds, Lake Placid Noon Rotary, Lake Placid Fresh Water Charter & Guide, Lowe's (Keep America Beautiful), Mason G. Smoak Foundation, Ross & Annette Hendricks, Seminole Brighton Council, Shirley & Ralph Harris, Susan Benton, Tiptop Vending, Tony Jenkins, US Department of Agriculture, Williams Funeral Home, Whole Kids, Zephrine Augustine & Murphy USA, and other fine benefactors, donors, & sponsors.
Working Together for a Better Highway Park & Highlands County - click Candid Link below to access info via Guidestar
MISSION:
To end generational poverty and transform distressed neighborhoods into thriving, healthy, sustainable communities - good places to live, work, play, do business and raise families.
MISSION:
To end generational poverty and transform distressed neighborhoods into thriving, healthy, sustainable communities - good places to live, work, play, do business and raise families.
This mission is accomplished through community revitalization projects including beautification/rehabilitation projects, job development, job training, job support, workshops, business incubator at Village Green Resource Center, arts, cultural projects, humanities programs, exhibits, festivals, food distribution support, community teaching garden, health programs, Wele Youth Leadership, senior citizen programs, veterans and affordable housing support. These activities are designed to provide economic empowerment in marginalized communities in Highlands County.
Our Values
Our guiding principles are commitment, reliability, dependability, honesty, integrity, passion for our work, compassion for our community, fair play and sincerity.
Our Values
Our guiding principles are commitment, reliability, dependability, honesty, integrity, passion for our work, compassion for our community, fair play and sincerity.
We believe
- Partnerships are our best work
- We are stewards of our community
- Diverse experiences, cultures and backgrounds strengthen each of us
DEI Statement
DEI Statement
HPNC is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values. We recognize diversity as a way to leverage our differences, and we involve and reflect the communities we serve.
Equity is not equality. We align our policies, practices, and resources so that people of all races, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses have genuine opportunities to thrive.
Inclusion: We create an environment in which everyone feels valued and respected.
We approach our work on diversity, equity, and inclusion with courage and optimism—knowing it requires a sustained commitment
Vision
To provide pathways to wealth, health, and opportunity
Vision
To provide pathways to wealth, health, and opportunity

USDA​ 502
USDA​ 502
SELF HELP CERTIFIED
SELF HELP CERTIFIED
PACKAGER!!
PACKAGER!!
About Us
About Us
Highway Park Neighborhood Council is a 501c3 Community Services agency. We provide free community support programs for children, senior citizens, and veterans. Other programs include, Wele Youth Leadership Program, Village Green Community
Resource Center with free computer access/training, business incubator to help you launch your new business, job development, job training, GED programs in collaboration with South Florida State College. We also provide humanities, arts & cultural programs, health initiatives and neighborhood development projects (US Hwy 27 S Veterans Memorial, Village Green Resource Center, Village Green Community Teaching & Demonstration Garden, historic cemetery renovations (listed with the National Park Service "List of Registered Historic Places"), MLK Jr. Sports Field renovations & health programs, for the Highway Park community of Lake Placid, Florida. Housing program is for all of Highlands County, FL. To learn more about our nonprofit organization, contact us today!

Community Support Programs at Village Green Resource Center - 106 Washington Street, Lake Placid, FL
Community Support Programs at Village Green Resource Center - 106 Washington Street, Lake Placid, FL
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Business Development Workshops
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Business Incubator (New & emerging businesses)
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Employment Support
- Free Internet Use and Training
- Resume Writing
- Interviewing skills training
- Soft Skills Training
- Help completing forms (Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, SNAP, etc.)
- Community Teaching Garden (Coming Fall 2023)
- And More!

Committed to the Betterment of the Highway Park Community
Committed to the Betterment of the Highway Park Community
Get to know the people in charge of The Highway Park Neighborhood Council by clicking the link below

Community Development Projects
Community Development Projects
Highway Park Neighborhood Council is committed to providing top quality programs that will enrich, engage and inspire, always putting our participants at the forefront. Learn more about our available programs, and be sure to get in touch with any questions.
Office: 863/318/7481
106 Washington Street, Suite 2
Lake Placid, FL 33852
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What do we do?
And More!
- Senior Citizens Programs
- Veterans Programs
- Wele Youth Leadership Programs
- Health Fairs
- Festivals
- Agribusiness Courses
- Arts Programs
- Food Distribution Support
- Community Garden
- Green Space Development
- 1st Time Home-buyers Program
- Job Development Support
- Business Incubator Services


Wele Youth Leadership
Wele Talks Workshop on Leadership

COPS/ADAPT OFFICERS
Debating current events

Self Esteem workshop
Young Ladies Group

Young men's workshop
Role Modeling Discussion

Outdoor fun & activities


Our Objectives
Our award-winning agency works to revitalize the Highway Park Community through initiatives such as advocacy, community rehabilitation, arts and culture, humanities and historic preservation (physical, traditional, cultural), healthy living initiatives, educational programs, economic development, affordable housing education programs (financial literacy, home ownership pros/cons, rent vs own, etc.) and community advocacy. In partnership with HP Homes, as USDA 502 Certified Packagers, we strive to help low to very low-income families on the path to homeownership throughout Highlands County.



