Florida Construction News staff writer
Communities impacted by Hurricane Sally in 2020 will receive $187 million through the Florida Department of Commerce’s (FloridaCommerce) Rebuild Florida program to rebuild homes and infrastructure.
Communities will receive awards through the Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program for Hurricane Sally for the following projects:
City of Pensacola ($40 million) – to build a stormwater infrastructure project at Hollice T. Williams Park, repair infrastructure at the Port of Pensacola and improve infrastructure at the Fricker Center.
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners ($53 million) – to build a new energy-efficient Escambia County Area Transit Center and to make regional stormwater drainage improvements in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
Town of Century ($13 million) – to demolish the old Century High School Gym building located at 440 East Hecker Road and build a shelter that can also be used as a multi-purpose facility and to make drainage and road improvements at Jefferson Avenue, Freedom Road Bridge and Alger Road Bridge, which were damaged during Hurricane Sally.
Town of Jay ($5.5 million) – to build a Community Disaster Response Facility and various infrastructure to support disaster response and recovery following a storm event.
In addition, Panama City will receive $5 million and Escambia County will receive $3.1 million from the Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program to purchase and re-purposd residential properties in high flood-risk areas.
Finally, through the Rebuild Florida Workforce Recovery Training Program, Pensacola State College will get $2.5 million to bolster construction trades in Hurricane Sally-impacted communities. The plan is to launch or expand training programs tailored to specific economic revitalization needs of the community, which may include construction trades such as roofing, masonry, carpentry, concrete finishing, plumbing, HVAC, electricity, heavy equipment operations, carpet laying, window installation, plastering and welding.