Florida Construction News staff writer
More than $1.8 million in awards to military communities through the Defense Infrastructure Grant Program and the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program will be used for infrastructure projects and economic growth.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the funding, which is in addition to $6.1 million in grants announced in 2023, and bring the total to about $13.6 million since 2019.
The program supports local infrastructure projects deemed to “have an impact on the military value of installations within the state.” Projects include transportation, utilities, housing, security, and projects that protect military installations from encroachment.
The latest round of approvals includes:
- City of Jacksonville ($500,000) – to acquire properties in the Military Influence Zone of Outlying Landing Field Whitehouse and provide matching funds for the next Naval Air Station Jacksonville encroachment protection acquisition.
- Walton County Economic Development Alliance ($830,961) – to improve intersection at SR 20 and CR 83A West.
- Bay County Board of County Commissioners ($371,350) – to begin construction on Phase II of a multi-use path on Magnolia Beach Road to create safe access between the new VA clinic, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Panama City, NSA Panama City RV Park and Naval Branch Health Clinic Panama City.
- Greater Pensacola Chamber ($65,200) – to create a 5-Year Strategic Plan for the City of Pensacola.
- Orlando Economic Partnership ($50,000) – to hire a consulting firm to conduct a planning study that will make recommendations for constructing a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility in the Central Florida Research Park.
- Clay County Economic Development Corporation ($20,000) – for environmental site analysis at the Keystone Heights Airport project awarded earlier this year.
For more information on military community programs, visit the Office of Military and Defense webpage here.