With Floridians continuing to face hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced that $148 million would be awarded to communities for infrastructure needs through the Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program provided by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
In his announcement, DeSantis detailed that his “administration remains committed to providing the resources necessary for Florida communities to build back stronger, and be more resilient to future storms.” The Governor also commented that “this transformational mitigation funding will go a long way in helping Florida’s communities invest in their futures through critical infrastructure improvements.”
Dane Eagle (R), the DEO Executive Director, praised the decision and Governor DeSantis, expressing that “under Governor DeSantis’ strong leadership, our state continues to provide investments to ensure the resiliency of Florida communities.” Eagle also commented that “the Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program provides storm-impacted communities the opportunity to complete large, high-impact infrastructure projects that will pay dividends for future generations.”
According to Governor DeSantis' site, 19 communities will be receiving awards.
The communities that will be receiving awards are listed below:
- Broward County ($6,250,000)– to construct an interconnect between the Broward County Reuse Facility and the City of Pompano Beach’s OASIS Reuse facility.
- City of Arcadia ($4,823,579)– to widen a stormwater tributary to provide additional storage during storm events to better control flood volume.
- City of Avon Park ($670,623) – to improve the existing potable water system through replacement of asbestos pipes with PVC piping, adding additional bore to improve water pressure, and to install an upgraded chlorine system.
- City of Doral ($1,000,000) – to reduce the frequency and severity of stormwater flooding by providing a positive-gravity drainage outfall discharging into the NW 58th Street canal.
- City of Fort Lauderdale ($10,500,000) – to replace aging and undersized stormwater infrastructure with new infrastructure systems that help with neighborhood flooding issues and provide better water quality treatment prior to releasing into the intracoastal waterway.
- City of Key West ($3,099,159)– to install tide valves at 40 stormwater outfall points of discharge to address saltwater flooding of roadways, sidewalks, and low-lying properties caused by high tides.
- City of Key West ($6,336,165)– to design and construct a pump-assist injection well to address flooding in a low-lying area that collects significant runoff.
- City of Lakeland ($42,986,390)– to establish a multi-component project in partnership with Bonnet Springs Park which focuses on increasing flood storage capacity to the drainage basin by improving the stormwater infrastructure and watershed quality.
- City of Lauderhill ($3,125,215) – to complete water and sewer line improvement projects.
- City of Miami ($13,497,843) – to retrofit portions of existing seawall, construct new sea wall sections, and other coastal resiliency improvements.
- City of Miami ($1,216,963)– to implement roadway resiliency improvements to NW 17th Street, between NW 27th Avenue and NW 32nd Improvements include the installation of a drainage system, exfiltration trench, storm inlets, accessibility ramps, and swales.
- City of North Miami Beach ($6,000,000)– to implement system-wide improvements to the sewer collection system that protects public health and natural water resources.
- City of North Miami Beach ($11,700,000)– to enhance the water transmission and distribution system to improve water quality, fire flow capacity, reliability, and resiliency.
- City of Orlando ($2,850,000) – to develop six resiliency hubs that will provide services to low- and moderate-income communities in the recovery phase of a disaster.
- City of Sebring ($2,605,428) – to complete fire protection resiliency, water quality, and water conservation infrastructure improvements.
- City of Sebring ($3,515,580) – to harden facilities that are part of the cities sanitary sewer collection system.
- City of West Palm Beach ($16,764,610)– to build resilient seawalls, improve storm water quality, and develop living shorelines, pedestrian hardscaping, and native landscaping.
- DeSoto County ($3,757,012)– to replace decaying drainage system infrastructure to significantly increase service life and reduce the possibility of flooding.
- DeSoto County ($3,273,575) – to repair a bridge used as an evacuation route during storms.
- Osceola County ($4,689,320) – to modify and adapt existing drainage elements to substantially reduce repetitive flooding.
