J.C. Derrick
Columbia and Levy counties and the town of Inglis will receive community planning funds for local projects.
Gov. Ron DeSantis recently announced Tuesday $1.5 million in awards that will assist Florida communities through the Community Planning Technical Assistance (CPTA) and the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) grant programs, according to a release from the governor’s office.
The Florida Legislature allocated the funds that are administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). CPTA grants allow counties, cities, and regional planning councils to develop strategies and plan for economic development, protect environmentally sensitive areas, and assist with disaster recovery and resiliency planning, according to the release.
“These awards will help communities across the state create plans for infrastructure improvements, create jobs, and strengthen their economic resiliency,” DeSantis said in the release. “Ensuring the success of our state’s small and rural communities is at the heart of the work my administration carries out every day.”
Funding is awarded to the following communities through the CPTA grant program:
- Columbia County ($65,000) – to conduct a Pre-Master Plan of the Bell Road Distribution Corridor, which has served as both a major evacuation route for southern Florida and a commercial corridor for statewide response efforts.
- Levy County ($34,700) – to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) database that will enable the county to publish and share information through the development of online interactive maps and dashboards.
- Town of Inglis ($75,000) – to develop a Community Action Plan, also known as an Engineering Evaluation of Inglis Dam and Inglis Bypass, to restore water flow through the Lower Withlacoochee River.