On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that more than $84 million has been awarded to 21 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.
Hurricane Irma hit the Sunshine State back in 2017. DeSantis made the announcement in the Florida Keys which were hit hard by Hurricane Irma.
Infrastructure projects to help rebuild the Florida Keys include:
- City of Key West ($1,781,450) – to repair a wastewater aerial crossing in the community.
- City of Marathon ($6,259,423) – to repair and elevate electronic components for wastewater remote vacuum pump stations and chemical storage areas in the community.
- Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority- ($30,678,750) – to fund the rehabilitation and improvement of the Stock Island Reverse Osmosis facility which provides a critical and reliable source of water for residents during an emergency.
“The recovery of Florida communities remains a high priority for my administration, especially in the Florida Keys, which are still recovering from Hurricane Irma.” said DeSantis. “We have worked tirelessly to get recovery dollars to all areas impacted by Hurricane Irma and will continue to do so as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
Launched in July 2019, the Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program provides local governments the opportunity to apply for grant funding to restore and improve infrastructure in areas damaged by Hurricane Irma or as match funding for other federal programs to carry out eligible, federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) infrastructure activity.
“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, we remain focused on ensuring that Florida communities have the long-term disaster recovery funding and resources they need to fully recover from Hurricane Irma,” said DEO Executive Director Ken Lawson. “The Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program is just one avenue we have to help local communities rebuild and prepare for future storms.”
In addition to the projects in the Florida Keys, DEO is awarding the following Hurricane Irma-impacted communities funding through the Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Program:
- City of Bonita Springs ($11,021,919) – to repair a stormwater drainage system that experienced extensive flooding during Hurricane Irma.
- City of Edgewater ($1,821,734) – to repair damaged and restricted drainage canals in the Hart Avenue Draining Basin.
- City of Fellsmere ($825,000) – to repair a culvert drainage system in order to lessen the impacts of future flooding.
- City of Hawthorne ($1,165,000) – to expand an existing stormwater retention pond.
- City of Homestead ($4,519,000) – to improve potable water facilities in the Avocado Village Neighborhood.
- City of Lawtey ($867,600) – to improve and update a stormwater drainage system into Alligator Creek.
- City of Riviera Beach ($1,900,800) – to repair and relocate critical wastewater infrastructure pipelines.
- City of Sarasota ($250,000) – to improve critical emergency power sources to lift stations.
- City of St. Cloud ($2,097,088) – to repair a damaged drainage pipe along Illinois Avenue.
- City of Tamarac ($353,000) – to provide critical emergency power sources to lift stations.
- City of West Melbourne ($2,266,191) – to improve and replace damaged curbs, culverts and driveway aprons in the Melbourne Estates neighborhood.
- Collier County ($591,374) – to improve a storm water drainage system to alleviate household flooding.
- Dade City ($3,418,599) – to repair the drainage and water storage system for the Dade Oaks neighborhood. This region experienced major flooding due to Hurricane Irma and subsequent major rain events.
- Everglades City ($295,949) – to repair damaged equipment at a municipal wastewater treatment facility.
- Hendry County ($4,297,112) – to repair the Four Corners storm water drainage system to alleviate flooding.
- Lee County ($7,119,293.14) – to remove debris in the area and conduct drainage repair and sidewalk replacement for the San Carlos Park community.
- Miami-Dade County ($2,100,000) – to relocate a damaged wastewater lift station to improve an existing sewer system.
- Town of Medley ($689,336) – to repair a failing seawall that is adjacent to a road at a retirement community.
DEO 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. Launched in September 2018, Rebuild Florida uses federal funding for Florida’s long-term recovery efforts from Hurricane Irma.
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