Challenge yourself by committing to an 8-week session and find out what it takes to run the City of Punta Gorda.

Program Overview

Harborside Hometown University (formerly known as Citizens Academy) has been in place since 2011. To date, there have been over 246 attendees, and growing.

This program is free to citizens of Punta Gorda. Attendees must be 18 years or older. Participants must attend at least 8 of the 10 sessions to graduate. Interactive sessions provide insight into your city government and develop turn residents into well-informed and civically engaged leaders.

For more information about the academy or to register, contact Laurel Adelmund, Public Works Senior Executive Assistant at (941) 575-5002 or by email.

Schedule

The program runs from January through April.

• Tuesdays, biweekly daytime sessions are held from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
• Sessions are held at the Public Works campus at 3130 Cooper Street.
• The Fire and Police sessions are held in the evening from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Registration

Registration for the 2026 Harborside Hometown University session has closed. Tune in October 2026 for registration for the 2027 session.

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