Taylor County is turning to state lawmakers to help the community recover from several major hits.
State Senator Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, was in Perry on Thursday, along with state House Representative Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, to hear residents’ concerns.
Simon said that he’s prepared to bring more jobs back to the area that has endured three hurricanes and two factories closing in the past two years.
“We are going to sit down with all the parties involved and try to get the business community back open—allowing people to put food on their table," said Simon.
Thursday’s legislative delegation meeting was jampacked. Perry's Foley mill closed in 2023 after Hurricane Idalia hit. Six month later, the West Fraser sawmill closed leaving approximately 126 people out of a job.
Perry City Manager John Hart told the Tallahassee Democrat the city needs over 120 million dollars in repairs for its wastewater treatment system, fire trucks, and more.
"We don't want to be looked at as a number," District 5 School Board member Deidra Dunnell told lawmakers on Thursday.
Both Simon and Shoaf promised to get to work on finding answers that may help solve Taylor’s septic and housing problems.
"This community has been gut punched and not just once," added Simom. "The fact that this room was filled tonight says that they haven't given up. Our job is one, listen, and have an action plan moving forward."