🟣 Kings Highway Growth, Infrastructure Milestones & Community Impact

This week we’re highlighting St. Lucie County’s push to transform Kings Highway into a major job corridor, a historic milestone in Fort Pierce with the completion of Phase 1 of a new wastewater treatment facility, and the success of Indian River CARES’ Giving Tuesday volunteer recruitment fair. We’ve also included upcoming networking and community events, plus a spotlight on 4KIDS of the Treasure Coast and their upcoming At Home with 4KIDS Gala supporting children in foster care.

Nicholas, Michelle, and Danny
Co-Founders, Port St. Lucie Business Club

Economic leaders in St. Lucie County are focusing on Kings Highway as the county’s next major job corridor in an effort to reduce the number of residents commuting outside the area for work, which currently accounts for about 60% of the local workforce. New Economic Development Council Director Wes McCurry said the corridor holds significant untapped potential, and a recently released report outlines both existing development and long-term opportunities, continuing a vision county leaders have discussed for more than a decade.

Fort Pierce officials celebrated the completion of Phase 1 of the new Fort Pierce Utilities Authority Water Reclamation and Reuse Facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by nearly 200 people. The $140 million phase includes construction of the new treatment plant, while Phase 2 will involve 17 infrastructure projects to reroute wastewater flows and eventually decommission the older island plant, a process expected to be completed by 2028 or 2029.

Indian River CARES reported a successful Volunteer Recruitment Fair held on Giving Tuesday at the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, bringing together more than 30 nonprofits and community organizations. Attendees connected directly with local causes, explored volunteer opportunities, and nonprofits reported meaningful new relationships that will help strengthen services and quality of life across Indian River County.

Date & Time: Monday, January 19, 11:45am–12:45pm
Location: Mission Kitchen, 6650 S Federal Hwy Unit 1, Port St. Lucie
Cost: $20 cash (includes lunch)

For $20, enjoy lunch while networking with fellow professionals and learning more about the featured nonprofit of the month. Bring a friend, a door prize if you’d like, and an appetite for good food and good deeds.

RSVP to Marketing with a Mission

Date & Time: Wednesday, January 21, 8:30–9:30am
Location: Mission BBQ, 1407 NW St. Lucie West Blvd, Port St. Lucie
Cost: $16 (paid online, includes breakfast)

Held every third Wednesday, this breakfast honors a St. Lucie County Fire District employee while spotlighting a local nonprofit. All proceeds support Fire District–backed charities, including the 50/50 raffle.

RSVP to Honoring a Lifesaver Networking Breakfast

Date & Time: Saturday, January 24, 11am–2pm
Location: 601 Atlantic Ave, Fort Pierce
Cost: $50 per adult (free kids admission)

Enjoy axe-throwing contests, wing-eating competitions, live music, and lunch (included with your ticket purchase) while supporting Project LIFT’s work with at-risk teens and families through counseling, mentoring, and vocational training.

RSVP + Get Tickets to the Lumberjack Fest

NOTE: We are not responsible for changes, cancellations, or inaccuracies. For the latest updates, please check with the hosting organization.

Your business is scaling fast—but growth without protection leaves your legacy exposed. At DV3 Financial, we help business owners safeguard what they’re building today so they can walk away on their terms tomorrow.

We help you:

You built it with purpose. We help you secure the outcome.

Learn More

Advertisement

4KIDS of the Treasure Coast is a faith-based foster care agency driven by the vision of “a home for every child.” Since expanding to our area in 2014, 4KIDS has been recruiting, training and supporting loving foster families in St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties. The goal is to ensure that every child removed from an unsafe home has a safe, nurturing place to go – ideally keeping siblings together – instead of being sent far away due to lack of local foster homes.

4KIDS also provides comprehensive support to the kids in their care, including trauma-informed counseling and mentoring for teens, to help heal the hurt and break the cycle of abuse. Through partnerships with churches, businesses and the State, 4KIDS is giving hope and healing to kids in crisis by surrounding them with the love of family.

👉 You can make a difference! Learn more at 4KIDS.us.

Date & Time: Saturday, January 24, 6:00pm
Location: Hutchinson Shores Resort, 3793 SR-A1A, Jensen Beach
Cost: View ticket page for pricing

Join 4KIDS for an inspiring evening raising critical funds and awareness for children in foster care across the Treasure Coast. The night will feature powerful storytelling from four community leaders, an exciting auction, and opportunities to make a lasting impact.

RSVP + Get Tickets to At Home with 4KIDS Gala

To Business Owners & Donors: Please consider donating a Gift Basket and help us make our silent auction a success! Contact [email protected].

Want to reach 3,300+ local business owners? The Connection is now offering sponsorships for businesses ready to connect with our engaged community. Interested? Learn more at pslbusinessclub.com/sponsorships.

We’d love your feedback on this week’s newsletter. Just hit reply and let us know what you think.