Marion County’s Neighborhood Cleanup Program clears 20 blighted properties in pilot effort

ContributedA cleared lot in a low-income Marion County neighborhood is shown after the removal of an unsafe structure as part of the county’s Neighborhood Cleanup Pilot Program. Marion County Public Relations

MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Marion County Community Services and Growth Services are seeing encouraging results from the Neighborhood Cleanup Pilot Program, which was launched to address code violations and unsafe structures in low-to-moderate income communities using federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

Approved by the Marion County Board of County Commissioners in May 2024, the program officially began implementation in October 2024. Since then, teams have made significant progress toward the shared goal of enhancing neighborhood safety and visual appeal and brought an update to the July 15 County Commission meeting. 

Side-by-side images of a cluttered lot before cleanup and the same lot cleared of debris after cleanup.
Before and after photos show the impact of Marion County’s Neighborhood Cleanup Pilot Program, which cleared debris and unsafe structures from blighted properties. Courtesy: Marion County Public Relations

What’s Been Accomplished So Far

  • Approximately 20 properties in low- to moderate-income census tracts have already been cleaned up or had unsafe structures demolished.
  • A dedicated Code Enforcement Officer was assigned to the program and received specialized training to focus efforts within qualifying communities.

 “We commend all of you on this hard work and are excited about how this program is working to help clean up our communities,” said Marion County Commission Chairman Kathy Bryant. “This is a strong step forward in revitalizing neighborhoods and improving the quality of life for our residents.”

How the Program Works

The program is a joint effort between the Community Services Department and the Growth Services Department’s Code Enforcement Division. With funding capped at $200,000, the program covers the cost of one full-time Code Enforcement Officer and associated cleanup activities in low-income area census tracts.

Under the program:
  • Community Services manages program funding, reporting, and HUD compliance.
  • Growth Services oversees day-to-day code enforcement, contractor coordination, and environmental reviews required for each cleanup activity.

The work is guided by the County’s 2025–2026 Action Plan and 2025–2028 Five-Year Consolidated Plan, both of which emphasize targeted improvements in distressed neighborhoods.

Map of Marion County with red dots marking parcel cleanup sites for 2024–2025.
A map from Marion County Community Services shows the locations of targeted neighborhood cleanups completed or planned for FY 2024–2025 under the county’s code enforcement initiative. Courtesy: Marion County Public Relations

Looking Ahead

With early successes documented, Community Services and Growth Services plan to continue the Neighborhood Cleanup Program through Fiscal Year 2025-26, as long as funding remains available. As the program continues, efforts will focus on:

  • Identifying at least three communities with high levels of slum and blight.
  • Clearing and improving at least four additional blighted properties.
  • Ensuring all work remains compliant with federal guidelines to maintain eligibility for ongoing support.

This pilot initiative reflects Marion County’s commitment to improving community conditions and quality of life for all residents—especially those in historically underserved areas.

For more details on the Neighborhood Cleanup Program or other CDBG-funded initiatives, please visit MarionFL.org or contact the Community Services department.