Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced $167.5 million in new state and federal infrastructure awards aimed at helping 34 small and rural Florida communities recover from recent storms.
The funding will support repairs and upgrades to water, wastewater, stormwater, transportation and emergency facilities damaged or strained by major disasters in 2023 and 2024, including Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene and Milton, as well as North Florida tornadoes. The awards are distributed through the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Infrastructure Repair Program and the state’s Rural Infrastructure Fund.
State officials said the projects are intended to address both immediate recovery needs and longer-term vulnerabilities exposed by repeated storms, particularly in rural areas with aging utility systems.
“These awards, totaling $167.5 million, will bolster long-term recovery efforts in areas hit by major storms in 2023 and 2024 – and these investments will also help ensure that our rural communities remain competitive, resilient, and full of opportunity for Florida families,” DeSantis said.
Taylor County is among the largest recipients, with nearly $36 million awarded for a coordinated set of recovery and resilience projects. The awards will fund repairs to flood-prone roads in Steinhatchee, the construction of a special needs emergency shelter, and planning work for infrastructure to support a commercial seafood off-loading and processing facility. Additional funding will also modernize emergency power, communications, and water systems at Doctor’s Memorial Hospital to improve its reliability during future disasters.
Elsewhere, Port St. Joe will receive $25 million to rebuild and strengthen its wastewater treatment facility, while Cross City will receive more than $37 million to construct a new wastewater plant and upgrade stormwater drainage. Cedar Key, Monticello, Madison County and several other Big Bend and Panhandle communities will also receive multimillion-dollar awards focused largely on water and sewer systems.
Separate Rural Infrastructure Fund grants will support economic development projects, including airport improvements, industrial park planning, roadway upgrades and utility expansions tied to job creation in rural areas.
