Last week at Space Connect, members of our community gathered for a Fireside Chat with Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss, moderated by Palm Beach School District Board Member Virginia Savietto, the conversation offered a candid look at leadership, economic opportunity, and how local businesses can better engage with county government.
One of the strongest messages from Commissioner Weiss was clear: commissioners cannot help businesses if they don’t know the challenges they’re facing. He encouraged small businesses and certified SBEs to speak up, reach out, and engage with county offices so they can be connected with the right departments and resources.
The conversation also touched on Project Tango, the proposed 200+ acre AI data center in Royal Palm Beach. Commissioner Weiss noted that projects of this scale require many trades and services, creating significant potential opportunities across the construction ecosystem, while also requiring careful consideration of environmental resources such as water and power.
Another key topic was how to ensure local opportunities reach local businesses. Commissioner Weiss shared that the County is working to review data from the Office of Small Business Development, led by Axel Miranda, to better understand how opportunities are distributed. Discussions are also underway about creating incentives for prime contractors who bring new certified firms into projects.
Beyond certifications and technical readiness, he emphasized the importance of relationships: connecting with primes and industry partners early, long before projects begin.