Key Largo, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that nearly $100 million has been awarded to 24 communities impacted by Hurricane Irma through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program. The program, administered by DEO, helps communities fund infrastructure restoration and improvement projects in communities impacted by disasters.  

The funds are allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.

“Florida communities are still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Irma, and helping them rebuild remains a top priority,” said Governor DeSantis. “This funding will not only help to ensure Hurricane Irma-impacted communities are restored but also help improve their resiliency against future events.”

The Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program provides local governments the opportunity to restore and improve infrastructure in areas damaged by Hurricane Irma or as match funding for other federal programs to carry out eligible, federal CDBG-DR infrastructure activity.

“Governor DeSantis has challenged our Department with ensuring Hurricane Irma-impacted communities across the state can access the resources necessary to help them rebuild and enhance their resiliency,” said Dane Eagle, Executive Director of the Department of Economic Opportunity. “The Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Program is one way we can help these communities recover as we continue to make our state more resilient to future storms.” 

DEO is awarding the following communities funding through the Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program:

• City of Bonita Springs ($2,958,297) – to increase storage pond drainage capacity.
• City of Cocoa Beach ($3,332,323) – to repair underground sanitary sewers by slip-lining damaged areas.
• City of Edgewater ($14,697,665) – to improve the G-2 and G-11 canals which flooded during Hurricane Irma.
• City of Fellsmere ($4,068,300) – to increase the accessibility to the City’s water plant.
• City of Florida City ($16,668,544) – to convert a stormwater canal to a culvert system.
• City of Gainesville ($512,073) – to improve a creek bed which has a high risk of erosion.
• City of Hallandale Beach ($2,813,471) – to increase the capacity for a lift station and force main to be more resilient.
• City of Hollywood ($3,435,000) – to repair and replace wastewater infrastructure.
• City of Key West ($3,563,054) – to improve an existing sewage force main bridge crossing.
• City of Key West ($1,376,270) – to install stormwater infrastructure to alleviate future damage to residential areas.
• City of Kissimmee ($3,400,000) – to repair stormwater facilities in order to prevent flooding in residential neighborhoods. 
• City of Miami Gardens ($1,701,380) – to improve stormwater infrastructure and roadways in Vista Verde.
• City of North Port ($1,150,000) – to improve inflow and infiltration wastewater collection systems.
• City of North Port ($650,440) – to install permanent generators for lift stations.
• City of Palatka ($1,537,633) – to make flood and drainage improvements in service areas across the City.
• City of South Bay ($2,080,000) – to build a larger, more resilient community center that serves as an emergency shelter.
• City of Sweetwater ($1,500,000) – to install a stormwater system and stormwater pump station.
• Collier County ($602,786.32) – to improve drainage systems to mitigation future flooding.
• Columbia County ($3,614,118.75) – to add elevation, paving, and drain controls to prevent future flooding in the community.
• Columbia County ($4,762,257.50) – to elevate, pave, and install drainage swales and culverts to prevent repetitive flooding.
• Flagler County ($517,368) – to improve a drainage canal to be more resilient to future storms.
• Fort Pierce Utilities Authority ($3,792,768) – to reconstruct a damaged sewer connection system.
• Hendry County ($1,635,610) – to improve conveyance and pumping capacity to move stormwater to a larger detention area.
• Lee County ($2,718,577) – to replace sidewalks and roadside drainage systems damaged by the storm.
• Lee County ($732,540) – to clear five canals of vegetation debris and sediment.
• Lee County ($678,566) – to replace the pedestrian bridge and Richmond Avenue over Able Canal and Lehigh Acres.
• Monroe County ($8,181,489) – to install a stormwater collection, treatment, and disposal system designed to assist neighborhoods with repetitive flooding.
• Monroe County ($1,353,986) – to assist the city of Key Largo mitigate the potential of destroyed or heavily damaged homes from future storm surge during a storm event.
• Monroe County ($2,194,599) – to prevent flooding and sea level rise and maintain better water quality.
• Orange County ($2,506,371) – to install preventative flooding measures to protect the landlocked Orlo Vista neighborhood.
• Town of Cross City ($994,622.59) – to install curb inlets and drainage pipe to allow positive drainage in low-lying areas.

The Department is the governor-designated state authority responsible for administering all U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) long-term recovery funds awarded to the state. Rebuild Florida uses federal funding for Florida’s long-term recovery efforts from the devastating impacts of natural disasters. For more information, visit RebuildFlorida.gov.

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