Florida Construction News staff writer
More than $8.7 million has been awarded to nine small and rural Florida communities for housing and community development activities, bringing the total funding to more than $87 million in 123 community development projects for Florida communities since 2019.
FloridaCommerce also announced more than $4 million in grant funding is available through the Florida Defense Infrastructure Grant (DIG) and Florida Defense Reinvestment Grant (DRG) programs to support economic development in military communities and infrastructure near military installations. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 27, and additional information is available on the Military Community Programs webpage.
DIG supports local infrastructure projects that contribute a positive impact on the military value of installations within the state by addressing encroachment, transportation and access, housing, utilities, communications, environmental, and security needs. Funds are used for projects that benefit both local communities and military installations.“I am happy to announce these awards for nine small and rural communities — four of which are actively recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Idalia,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Strategic investments like these help expand economic opportunities for families and strengthen our rural communities.”
FloridaCommerce administers Florida’s Small Cities CDBG program, which provides funding for economic development initiatives through neighborhood revitalization, housing rehabilitation, and commercial revitalization.
The following communities will receive funding through the Florida Small Cities CDBG program:
- City of Blountstown ($440,764) – 4,473 linear feet of street repaving and 2,250 linear feet of drainage improvements
- City of Bristol ($649,881) – 12,670 linear feet of water line replacement
- Town of Mayo ($650,000) – rehabilitate or replace up to nine homes
- City of High Springs ($700,000) – stormwater and drainage improvements to include new construction of drainage swales, installation of culvert pipes and a new pump station with six-inch stormwater force main piping
- City of Gretna ($700,000) – improvements to wastewater treatment facility including the installation of new dewatering equipment and repave about 1,665 linear feet of streets.
- Town of Monticello ($700,000) – replace aging components of the Shady Lane Sanitary Sewer Lift Station
- City of Williston ($700,000) – improvements to sanitary sewer lift station #4
- Town of Hillard ($700,000) – 4,000 linear feet of water lines with new six-inch PVC pipe and installation of new fire hydrants.
- Washington County ($3,482,300) – construct roadway access, water improvements, fire protection, public parking improvements, and improvements to a railroad spur. The infrastructure project is expected to produce 100 new full-time jobs.
For more information visit FloridaJobs.org/SmallCitiesCDBG.
