ICYMI: Governor Ron DeSantis Announces a Total of $311 Million in Awards to Improve Infrastructure in 37 Florida Communities

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a total of $311 million in awards to improve infrastructure in 37 Florida communities, which includes 32 awards to rural counties and small cities. These awards come from funding through both the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Infrastructure Repair Program, helping communities impacted by the 2023 and 2024 Storms-Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene, Milton and the 2024 North Florida Tornadoes and funding from the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF). These awards invest in critical infrastructure needs ranging from utility and transportation improvements to emergency operations resources in these communities-especially supporting critical water infrastructure investments across the state.

"Today in Highlands County, I was proud to announce $311 million in grant awards to improve infrastructure in 37 communities across Florida impacted by the major storms of 2023 and 2024-Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene, Milton and the North Florida Tornadoes," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "These infrastructure projects will help make Florida more prosperous, more resilient, and better prepared to weather any storms that may come our way."

"These awards directly support job creation by providing communities with the critical infrastructure to embolden their vision for resiliency and business formation," said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. "Whether it's upgrading utilities, developing pad ready manufacturing sites, or improving essential services, these projects help small and rural communities attract job creators, bolster their workforce and build a thriving economic future."

The following communities will receive funds through the 2023 and 2024 Storms Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Infrastructure Repair Program:

• Bradford County Board of County Commissioners ($5,951,403) - to structurally reinforce the roadway by adding base, pavement and re-establish the roadside swales by regrading and adding erosion protection.
• Citrus County Board of County Commissioners ($16,435,400) - to support the replacement of a sanitary sewer system following stormwater intrusion and increased flows caused by the 2023 and 2024 storms. Upgrading these systems will expand capacity and help alleviate long-standing constraints on the county's ability to grow, supporting future business development.
• City of Arcadia
  o $14,233,044 - to widen the main stormwater channel in the city, providing additional storage during storms.
  o $8,514,000 - to construct and expand the wastewater treatment plant.
• City of Live Oak ($3,895,500) - to construct a 100,000-gallon water storage tank and support a water line loop project.
• City of Macclenny ($7,028,700) - to harden and modernize the Ohio Street Water Treatment Plant by upgrading and improving software and equipment.
• City of Palatka ($4,932,396) - to harden and expand the capacity of the city's wastewater treatment plant to handle future wet weather surges.
• City of Wauchula ($2,386,500) - to support wastewater system repairs, rehabilitation and floodwater mitigation.
• Columbia County Board of County Commissioners ($4,000,000) - to upgrade and harden community shelters in Columbia County.
• DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners ($8,000,000) - to construct and install wells and a pumping system to connect the wastewater treatment plant to the disposal wells-providing a more secure, underground disposal method for treated wastewater.
• Hardee County Board of County Commissioners ($1,900,000) - to remove vegetative debris from the Peace River Waterway system.
• Jacksonville Electric Authority ($20,000,000) - to redirect all wastewater flows to Jacksonville Electric Authority's existing, reliable wastewater treatment facility.
• Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners ($2,720,000) - to rehabilitate, preserve and harden five critical county-owned bridges.
• Peace River Watershed Project ($70,000,000) - to support the water infrastructure repair project in Polk County-ensuring restoration and resiliency that manages flood risk and water quality impairment through habitat restoration.
• Santa Fe College ($5,000,000) - to repair and upgrade the campus gymnasium due to significant roof damage from the 2023 and 2024 Storms.
• Sebring Airport Authority ($3,044,630) - to demolish and replace the existing stormwater system and associated infrastructure at Sebring Regional Airport and Multimodal Logistics Center.
• Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners ($38,044,115) - to construct the North Florida Regional Special Needs Emergency Shelter.
• Town of Glen St. Mary ($1,339,500) - to harden the wastewater collection system by installing permanent standby generators for the sanitary sewer lift stations.
• Town of St. Lucie Village ($12,124,812) - to construct a resilient, centralized potable water supply system for the town's public use.
• Union County Board of County Commissioners ($1,401,750) - to construct a hardened public safety communications tower and upgrade the county's current emergency dispatch system.
• Village of Indiantown
  o $9,300,000 - to construct a new Reverse Osmosis water treatment plant, replacing existing outdated systems.
  o $7,900,000 - to replace 13,000 linear feet of the main water transmission main for the Village.

In addition to the $400 million in IRP funding, an allotment of $50 million has been allocated by HUD to eligible counties and municipalities located in 2023 and 2024 Storms' Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) areas affected by Hurricane Ian.

The following communities will receive funds under both Hurricane Ian and the 2023 and 2024 Storms Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-DR) Infrastructure Repair Program:

• City of Avon Park ($22,248,529) - to assess, evaluate, repair, sleeve or rebuild the facilities at the City of Avon Park's Sanitary Sewer Collection System.
• Immokalee Water and Sewer District ($10,823,000) - to improve the existing wastewater treatment plant, addressing hydraulic imbalances, enhancing treatment reliability and providing surge capacity necessary to manage extreme wet-weather inflows.
• Town of Dundee
  o $6,008,781 - to harden the town's sanitary sewer collection system and install monitoring equipment at the town's wastewater treatment plant.
  o $10,257,429 - to repair damage and harden the town's potable water system.

The RIF program supports infrastructure projects that drive job creation, capital investment, and strengthen economies in Rural Areas of Opportunity (RAO), rural counties and rural communities. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026, the Florida Legislature appropriated $17 million for the RIF statewide program and $5 million for the Panhandle-Specific program for a total of $22 million. FloridaCommerce received a record 112 applications requesting more than $195 million in funding during the 2025-2026 RIF application period. Since 2019, the program has awarded more than $110 million in grant funds.

The following communities will receive funds through the Rural Infrastructure Fund Program:

• City of Frostproof ($238,991) - to extend an existing water main, designing a 12-inch loop allowing for extension to the area proposed as the Duke Readiness Center.
• City of Lake City ($1,788,415) - to replace a hangar at the Lake City Gateway Airport significantly damaged by Hurricane Idalia.
• City of Okeechobee ($1,200,000) - to support a construction project aimed at improving public infrastructure, facilitating expansion within an existing industrial site, including the resurfacing of two major roads that provide access to the Okeechobee Commerce Center.
• City of Wauchula ($510,000) - to enhance the existing water distribution system by installing approximately 7,100 linear feet of water main, enhancing fire protection along Townsend Street to U.S. Highway 17.
• Columbia County Board of County Commissioners ($2,000,000) - to construct an inbound and outbound rail track serving the North Florida Mega Industrial Park.
• Hardee County ($250,000) - to build a dewatering facility, reducing long-term disposal costs.
• Hardee County Industrial Development Authority ($226,250) - to continue their centralized parking construction, including the relocation of electrical utilities underground.
• Keystone Heights Airport Authority ($2,950,450) - to construct a runway extension to Runway 2.
• Okeechobee Utility Authority ($1,000,000) - to install pipe and corresponding water mains to connect previously completed water infrastructure.
• Putnam County Board of County Commissioners ($3,000,000) - to construct and commission critical public infrastructure at the Central Landfill in Putnam County.
• Town of Zolfo Springs ($300,000) - to conduct a comprehensive Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey which will identify infiltration and inflow sources and address challenges from power outages, lift station failures and aging infrastructure.

For more information on the Rebuild Florida 2023 and 2024 Storms Infrastructure Repair Program, click here.

For more information on the Rural Infrastructure Fund, click here.