Florida Construction News staff writer
More than $122 million has been awarded to small county governments and rural municipalities across the state with one-third of funding going to rural communities impacted by hurricanes Idalia and Debby.
“Rural counties face unique infrastructure challenges, so we are ensuring they have the resources needed for long-term success,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “These investments will improve infrastructure and attract new businesses to Florida’s rural communities.”
Rural counties will use funds to improve county roads, and FDOT will invest more in improving state-owned rural highways. Awards will also help harden rural infrastructure to be even better prepared for future storms, Desantis said.
Here’s how funding will be distributed:
- $4.25 million for Bradford County
- $5.24 million for Calhoun County
- $2.48 million for Citrus County
- $985,000 for Collier County
- $2.98 million for Columbia County
- $2.28 million for DeSoto County
- $2.46 million for Flagler County
- $1.87 million for Gadsden County
- $2.19 million for Gilchrist County
- $2.3 million for Gulf County
- $594,000 for Hamilton County
- $1.12 million for Hardee County
- $4.58 million for Hendry County
- $4.81 million for Highlands County
- $1.47 million for Holmes County
- $1.55 million for Indian River County
- $4.31 million for Jackson County
- $1.63 million for Lafayette County
- $2.5 million for Levy County
- $7.72 million for Liberty County
- $1.45 million for Madison County
- $1.55 million for Martin County
- $2.22 million for Monroe County
- $2.04 million for Palm Beach County
- $9.12 million for Putnam County
- $2.23 million for Sumter County
- $3.66 million for Suwannee County
- $2.6 million for Taylor County
- $3.05 million for Union County
- $6.41 million for Washington County
Since 2019, FDOT has invested more than $1.2 billion to assist counties with critical infrastructure projects. FDOT has funded the following programs to help rural counties:
- $865.3 million – Small County Outreach Program (SCOP) assists small county governments in repairing or rehabilitating country bridges, paving unpaved roads, addressing road-related drainage improvements, and the construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and capacity and safety improvements of county roads, and constructing capacity and safety improvements.
- $292.3 million – Small County Resurfacing Assistance Program (SCRAP) assists small county governments in resurfacing and reconstructing county roads.
To learn more about and apply for additional funding opportunities for Florida’s rural communities through the SCOP/SCRAP, click here.