Florida Gov. DeSantis announces millions for communities hit by Hurricane Michael

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday announced more than $4.6 million in state Rural Infrastructure Fund awards for north Florida communities devastated by Hurricane Michael in October 2018. 

“My administration remains committed to areas still recovering from past storms,” DeSantis said in a statement. “This $4.5 million will go a long way toward giving some of the rural areas affected by Hurricane Michael the extra boost they need to attract investment and improve their economies.”

In 2020, the Florida Legislature set aside money for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Rural Infrastructure Fund projects in Calhoun, Gadsden, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, and Washington Counties, a press release said. 

The idea was to fund "planning, preparing, and financing of infrastructure projects in rural communities, encourag(ing) job creation, capital investment, and the strengthening and diversification of rural economies through the promotion of tourism, trade, and economic development."

According to the press release, the following communities received funding through the Rural Infrastructure Fund:

• City of Bonifay ($242,250) - develop a concept and preliminary plan for a central stormwater facility that will mitigate repetitive flooding to existing businesses, allow for the attraction of new businesses, and continue the City of Bonifay’s downtown improvement efforts.
• City of Chipley ($291,785) - identify a comprehensive solution to continued flooding in the downtown corridor and develop a stormwater management plan to support downtown revitalization goals to attract new businesses and create a vibrant, safe, and attractive downtown area.
• City of Graceville ($95,000) - replace sewer infrastructure that transfers treated sewage from the existing wastewater treatment plant and allow the City of Graceville to remain in compliance with Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWTF) permitting requirements and administrative orders.
• City of Marianna ($757,460) - construct a 12-inch, 4,460 linear foot water main required for the city’s fire suppression system to meet federal, state, and local building and fire code requirements in order for an existing local business to expand and retain 98 jobs.
• City of Marianna ($177,154.50) - obtain industrial park certifications for the Marianna Airport Commerce Park and Marianna Jackson County Distribution Park that verify site readiness and provide specific, in-depth site-related information to perspective companies.
• City of Midway ($75,000) - assess infrastructure, streetscape, and landscape enhancements to ensure Midway is economically appealing for new businesses and to improve long-term viability of existing businesses.
• Holmes County ($297,900) - create a plan for an industrial park to bring large manufacturing, distribution, and logistics companies to the county due to its convenient location to Interstate-10 to provide much-needed jobs.
• Jackson County ($300,000) - obtain certifications for the Spanish Trail Commerce Park and Endeavor Commerce Park, which will provide development and documentation of site preparation, attract companies looking to build new facilities, and offer quality industrial-related employment opportunities.
• Liberty County ($275,037) - finalize the civil site design for Sunshine Cypress, the first industrial park in Liberty County. The park will offer an attractive location with railroad access and support local efforts to provide economic diversification and recovery from timber industry losses.
• Liberty County ($165,000) - conduct a broadband feasibility study to identify areas of insufficient broadband infrastructure, list potential service providers, and determine needed improvements and associated costs. This study will provide consistent broadband infrastructure and incentivize businesses and industry to locate to Liberty County.
• Town of Havana ($75,000) - identify infrastructure, streetscape, and landscape enhancements to increase the potential for both small business job creation and private investment in the Town of Havana’s economic corridor.
• Town of Malone ($256,500) - conduct a study to identify a comprehensive solution to stormwater management to alleviate repetitive flooding and allow for existing businesses to reopen, as well as attract new business to the downtown area in the Town of Malone.
• Town of Sneads ($162,150) - conduct a pedestrian connectivity study to address the need for a significant portion of the Town of Snead’s population to have pedestrian access in order to support local businesses, potential redevelopment areas, and service providers.
• Washington County ($1,500,000) - serve as a 50-percent match for the installation of broadband internet service providing necessary access to support existing businesses, while simultaneously attracting new business and industry to Washington County.

For more information, visit FloridaJobs.org/RIF.

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