TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced more than $111 million is now available to Panhandle communities through the Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program for Hurricane Michael. The Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program is designed to provide funding for local governments to strategically rebuild and harden infrastructure to prevent or reduce losses from future disasters. 

“Governor DeSantis’ unwavering commitment to restoring Northwest Florida communities that were impacted by Hurricane Michael remains a top priority,” said Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Secretary Dane Eagle. “This infrastructure funding will allow Panhandle communities to accelerate their recovery efforts, while simultaneously investing in critical infrastructure projects to increase regional resiliency for years to come.”

State agencies and local governments impacted by Hurricane Michael and within the federal and state Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) areas are eligible to apply for funding. School districts, nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations, and non-governmental organizations may apply in partnership with a state agency or local government.

In addition, eligible local governments in Fiscally Constrained Counties may also apply to receive technical assistance in application development through the Rebuild Florida Technical Assistance Grant Program for Hurricane Michael.

The deadline to complete an application is Friday, September 17, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. (EST). For more information about the program, including how to complete an application, visit the Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program’s webpage.

A total of $223 million in funding is allocated for the Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. Last month, Governor DeSantis announced more than $111 million in awards to 22 communities from the first round of the Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program for Hurricane Michael Recovery.

To provide more information about the Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program, DEO will host a webinar at 2:00 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. Click here to register.

For more information about the Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program, click here.

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. Rebuild Florida uses federal funding for Florida’s long-term recovery efforts from the devastating impacts of natural disasters. For more information, visit RebuildFlorida.gov.

About DEO

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce and community development efforts, expediting economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities and promote economic resiliency. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org.

 

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