Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday the award of over $66 million to communities impacted by Hurricane Idalia last August.
According to a press release sent by the Governor’s Office from a conference held in Live Oak, $9.2 million was awarded from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (JGGF) to the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners, Madison County and the Big Bend Technical College for expanded workforce education and infrastructure improvements. The JGGF awards are earmarked for projects that were put on hold following Hurricane Idalia and are projected to create more than 180 new advanced manufacturing-trained graduates and 390 new high-wage jobs in North Florida.
An additional $50 million from the Hurricane Idalia Recovery Grant Program will go to assist communities with debris removal, infrastructure projects and building repairs, and $6.8 million in funds from the Florida Department of Transportation will assist rural counties with road resurfacing and widening projects.
“Today’s awards build on Florida’s commitment to investing in infrastructure and workforce development opportunities that attract businesses and fuel local economies,” said DeSantis in the press release. “These investments are even more important following Hurricane Idalia as we invest for the long term in Florida’s Big Bend region.”
On Feb. 23, DeSantis was in Cedar Key to announce $5.3 million in funding to harden infrastructure through the Rural Infrastructure Fund. Cedar Key was without electricity, water and sewer service after Hurricane Idalia’s seven-foot storm surge rolled over the island.
Suwannee County will receive $2,218,000 in infrastructure improvement JGGF monies to support two expansion projects and four new business opportunities by constructing a wastewater plant at the Suwannee County Catalyst Site.
Hurricane Recovery Grant Program
DeSantis also announced the award of $50 million through the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Hurricane Recovery Grant Program. These funds are awarded for 13 projects across 10 rural counties hit by Hurricane Idalia and projects include debris removal, beach renourishment, infrastructure repairs, and waterway dredging. Funds are awarded to:
- City of Crystal River – $275,000
- Dixie County – $10,105,596
- Hamilton County – $1,560,000
- Hamilton County – $150,000
- Hernando County – $350,000
- Jefferson County – $3,225,000
- Lafayette County – $1,425,000
- Lafayette County – $1,500,000
- Madison County Emergency Management – $14,700,000
- Madison County Hospital – $2,200,000
- Pinellas County – $7309,404
- Suwannee County Sheriff – $2,150,000
- Taylor County – $5,050,000
Small County Outreach Program
DeSantis announced the award of $6.8 million through the Florida Department of Transportation’s Small County Outreach Program. These awards will be used for road resurfacing, pavement, and road widening projects. Awardees include:
- Taylor County ($2.2 million to resurface and widen a portion of 1st Avenue near Steinhatchee.)
- Levy County ($1.5 million to address pavement needs on County Road 330.)
- Madison and Suwannee Counties ($1.2 million to each county to resurface and widen a variety of lanes throughout impacted area)
- Jefferson County ($769,000 to resurface and widen a portion of County Road 149.)