Elected Officials To Welcome New Cuban, Venezuelan Residents

TAMPA, FL — U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, Florida Rep. Susan Valdes and other elected officials will kick off a Centro de Bienvenida Friday at 10 a.m. at Egypt Lake Recreation Center, 3126 Lambright St., Tampa.

As Tampa and Hillsborough County welcome an influx of Cuban and Venezuelan immigrants, elected officials are gathering with local partners for this Centro de Bienvenidato to assist these newcomers with navigating school placement, skills training, health care, job hunts and other services.

Related: 'Overwhelming' Numbers Of Cubans Make 94-Mile Trip To FL, Democracy

"The tax collector's office is often the first point of contact for new residents, as getting a driver's license or identification card is critical before receiving any services or applying for work or housing," Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan said. "For that reason, collaborating with other community organizations and government agencies to share educational materials and resources is essential to making their process easy when they come to our offices. I thank Congresswoman Castor and Rep. Valdes for kicking off this much-needed campaign."

Those in attendance will include Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen and Hillsborough County School Board member Karen Perez.