MAY 20, 2026-The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors respectfully urges the Escambia County Commission to refrain from placing the Escambia Children's Trust on the 2026 General Election ballot.

"In 2020, the citizens of Escambia County made a clear decision," stated Chamber Board Chair Ildi Hosman. "They voted to give the Children's Trust ten years to demonstrate its value to this community. That was not a casual commitment; it was a vote, and it deserves to be honored," continued Hosman. "The Trust is still in the middle stages of doing the work our community asked it to do, and returning this item to the ballot now risks interrupting meaningful progress before the organization has had the opportunity to fulfill its promise. It sends the wrong message to our citizens, to the organizations working alongside the Trust, and most importantly, to the children this program was created to serve."

The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce represents more than 1,000 member businesses and has long been committed to the health, growth, and future of this community. Supporting stable, voter-backed initiatives that invest in our children is consistent with that commitment. We respectfully ask that the Commission allow the Escambia Children's Trust the full opportunity the voters intended it to have.

The Chamber will have representation at the May 21st Escambia County Commission meeting to deliver public comment on this matter.