Governor Ron DeSantis announced over $91 million in funding to communities across the Panhandle region through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program.
The projects will include wastewater, sanitary sewer, potable water, and storm water system improvements, reported the governor's news release.
“I’ve said from the beginning that recovery from Hurricane Michael would be a long-term process,” said DeSantis in the news release. “Michael has forever left a mark on Panhandle communities, but through the funding provided today, we can ensure these communities are stronger and better equipped for the future.”
Funding will be awarded to 14 communities in the Panhandle region, which are:
- Town of Alford: $13,879,500 to construct a city-wide septic to sewer remodel.
- City of Marianna: $11,195,475 to rehabilitate the City’s storm water drainage system.
- City of Marianna: $7,191,760 to replace approximately 24,150 linear feet of needed potable water main pipes.
- City of Blountstown: $9,933,954 to repair damage to the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- City of Wewahitchka: $8,500,000 to conduct city-wide wastewater system repairs.
- Town of Grand Ridge: $7,508,451 to install emergency generators and SCADA communications systems to the Town’s lift stations.
- Town of Grand Ridge: $1,017,050 to replace the emergency generators at two potable water wells and install a SCADA communications system to the Potable Water System.
- City of Bristol: $6,869,018 to make wastewater and storm water improvements.
- City of Graceville: $6,347,700 to support sanitary sewer system hardening and resiliency.
- City of Graceville: $2,431,500 to support Graceville Fire Rescue Station relocation and reconstruction.
- Town of Sneads: $3,629,750 to make restoration improvements and repairs throughout the Town’s wastewater treatment and transmission systems.
- Town of Sneads: $1,907,925 to support critical transportation and drainage infrastructure restoration project.
- Town of Malone: $3,041,300 to construct city-wide storm water improvements.
- Town of Campbellton: $2,998,625 to rehabilitate the City’s storm water drainage system.
- Town of Vernon: $1,674,622 to install emergency generators and communications systems to the City’s lift stations.
- City of Jacob City: $1,412,073 to upgrade drainage ditches city wide and pave two eroded roadways.
- City of Gretna: $750,000 to replace the City’s Ground Storage Tank.
- Town of Wausau: $407,542 to replace the storm water drainage culvert system and restore the damaged and undermined pavement and road base on 2nd Avenue.
- Town of Wausau: $330,110 to support potable water system hardening and resiliency.
“Following a natural disaster, it is vitally important to support recovery efforts that promote the long-term resilience of our great state,” said DEO Secretary Dane Eagle in the news release. “Today’s awards are a testament to Governor DeSantis’ commitment to our Panhandle communities impacted by Hurricane Michael.”
According to the news release, Rebuild Florida is administered by DEO and allows local governments to develop large-scale, resilient infrastructure projects.
Rebuild Florida uses federal funding and the Department 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.
