High Springs, Williston receive $700K from development grant

High Springs and Williston received $700,000 each through the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) on Friday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded over $8.7 million to nine rural Florida communities from the program for housing and community development activities. Since 2019, 123 communities have received $87 million for community development projects throughout the state.

“I am happy to announce these awards for nine small and rural communities — four of which are actively recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Idalia,” said DeSantis in the press release. “Strategic investments like these help expand economic opportunities for families and strengthen our rural communities.”

High Springs has earmarked their funds for stormwater and drainage improvements that include the construction of drainage swales, the installation of culvert pipes and a new pump station with six-inch stormwater force main piping, according to the release.

Williston plans to use its grant funds to conduct improvements to the city’s sanitary sewer lift station No. 4.

The FloridaCommerce administers Florida’s Small Cities CDBG program, which is allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant provides funds for economic development initiatives through neighborhood revitalization, housing rehabilitation, and commercial revitalization.

“Governor DeSantis continues to champion community revitalization and economic development initiatives in small and rural communities across the state,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly in the press release. “FloridaCommerce is proud to partner with the communities receiving awards today to help them offer their residents the brightest future possible.”