Springfield breaks ground for a new city complex

SPRINGFIELD, Fla. ( WMBB ) – After 6 years of planning, applying for grants, and losing employees, Springfield community members had a lot to celebrate Thursday morning.

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce members joined Mayor Ralph Hammond and other city officials, putting on hard hats and looking to the city's future.

"We're here today to celebrate the groundbreaking of our new city complex. It will maintain public works, an up-to-date Fire Department, City Hall, and an up-to-date police department, all in one location," Springfield Mayor Ralph Hammond said.

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Since Hurricane Michael the fire department has been working out of a trailer that has to be evacuated anytime there's a thunderstorm.

The city hasn't had a good place for community assemblies, and not many people attend their commission meetings due to the lack of space.

But that's all changes in about 17 months.

"Everything finally started coming through together and getting all the paperwork and FEMA and the state. And it's been a challenge, to say the least. Things keep changing but we're here. The contractor which is ReliantSouth starts work next Tuesday. They say by contract it's about 17 months. They think they can get it done quicker than that," Hammond said.

The city is receiving a little more than $14 million from FEMA. Leaders also partnered with Regions Bank for a loan after the pandemic sent prices skyrocketing.

The project manager says the new facility will be state-of-the-art.

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"The state-of-the-art building and all the facilities will be in one place and the city staff and the city residents actually can come in one place and do all the city business," project manager Amir Zafar said.

To take a virtual tour of each of the new city complex buildings,.