Pensacola, Fla. – The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced grant awards totaling more than $3.5 million in Northwest Florida. Grant funding will be used to improve infrastructure, community redevelopment, and job creation in small and rural communities. Awards include $3.4 million through the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, $90,000 through the Community Planning Technical Assistance (CPTA) program, and $35,000 through the Competitive Florida partnership. The projects awarded in Northwest Florida can be found below.

“Florida’s rural communities are vital to the wellbeing and prosperity of our state, and my administration is committed to helping them thrive,” said Governor DeSantis. “The more than $3.5 million to Northwest Florida will help ensure that our small and rural communities have the infrastructure and funding they need to create jobs and strengthen their economic resiliency.”

“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, DEO continues to champion opportunities that help communities across the state,” said Dane Eagle, Secretary of the Department of Economic Opportunity. “We will work closely with these communities to meet their infrastructure needs and prepare them for the future in order to ensure strong economic development.”

Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Awards:

The Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant program, administered by DEO and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides funding for housing and community development activities that primarily benefit persons of low- and moderate-income in small cities and rural communities. More information about the Florida Small Cities CDBG program can be found here.

• Town of Century ($700,000) – to upgrade a sewage treatment plant serving three low- and moderate-income service areas. All three areas will benefit from the installation of new pumps, electrical and plumbing, and a new monitoring system and infiltration controls.
• Town of Jay ($600,000) – to resurface multiple streets located in four low- and moderate-income service areas.
• City of Mary Esther ($700,000) – to install a new water main with service connections and fire hydrants, refurbish sanitary sewer maintenance holes, and resurface a roadway.
• City of Valparaiso ($650,000) – to improve stormwater facilities and complete new street paving in two adjacent service areas.
• Santa Rosa County ($750,000) – to install a new 6-inch waterline in two residential neighborhoods, Barbarossa and New Hope in Midway, to improve water pressure and provide fire protection in low- and moderate-income service areas.

Community Planning Technical Assistance:

The Community Planning Technical Assistance grant program seeks to build stronger communities through innovative planning and development strategies to promote economic diversity, protect environmentally sensitive areas, and bolster resiliency planning. More information about the CPTA program can be found here.

• City of Pensacola ($40,000) – to prepare a Master Transportation Plan.
• Town of Jay ($40,000) – to update land development regulations based on Florida state statutes and Santa Rosa County restrictions.

Competitive Florida Partnership:

The Competitive Florida Partnership funds the development of an economic strategy through innovative planning, which focuses on economic growth, diversity, community design, and disaster preparedness. More information about the Competitive Florida Partnership can be found here.

• Town of Century (Escambia County $35,000)

Statewide, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that DEO awarded grants totaling more than $30 million in small and rural Florida throughout the state of Florida. Awards included $29 million through the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, $1.2 million through the Community Planning Technical Assistance (CPTA) program, $280,000 through the Competitive Florida Partnership program. More information can be found here. 

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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