Palm Beach County restores federal grant for Lake Worth Beach LGBTQ building
Federal officials still must approve the money for repairs to the Compass Community Center
A CITY-OWNED building that’s home to the Compass Community Center is back on track to receive a $308,000 federal grant for air-conditioning and elevator repairs.
Palm Beach County Administrator Joe Abruzzo on Friday restored the Community Development Block Grant allocation for 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth Beach, a building leased to Compass, which serves the LGBTQ community.
Last week, the county’s Department of Housing and Economic Development rejected the grant request over concerns it might violate a new state anti-diversity law that takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
“I reviewed the decision and I reversed it this morning. The Compass building and improvements will go on schedule,’’ Abruzzo told the Lake Worth Beach Independent.
The money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is administered by the county to local governments.
“The only hurdle is HUD needs to approve it and they do have some restrictions,’’ Abruzzo said, “but I believe that Compass services the entire community as a whole so in my opinion it should meet every threshold at HUD. It’s back on schedule.’’
The state legislation prohibits local governments from financing or promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and allows DeSantis to remove local elected officials from office if they promote activities tied to DEI.
Abruzzo, a former state senator and representative, said he doesn’t think the grant allocation will violate the state law because the building is owned by Lake Worth Beach and the money is scheduled to be approved by the County Commission in July, about six months before the state law goes into effect.
“We will have to take a deeper dive with our County Attorney’s office to see what this senate bill will impact,’’ he said.
“I believe in this case particularly this is a city owned property. Compass is the tenant. I think there’s a lot of positive structure for Compass that this should be an issue.’’
Abruzzo did not fault the county’s HED department for its rejection of the grant. “They were just being cautious,” he said.
City Commissioner Sarah Malega said she called Abruzzo to thank him “for having the foresight to do the right thing. He’s always been an ally and supporter. When it was brought to his attention he immediately reversed it.’’
Julie Seaver, CEO of Compass Community Center, praised Abruzzo’s decision but said “this moment underscores a deeper concern. When laws or policies are written or interpreted too vaguely, they can open the door to decisions that stray from their intended purpose and create real harm in our communities.”
The grant will help pay for nearly $400,000 in improvements to the Compass building.