Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more than $38 million in funding for 19 small and rural communities across the state.
The new funding, administered by FloridaCommerce, will be delivered through the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Awarded funds will support public infrastructure projects, neighborhood revitalization, housing rehabilitation and commercial revitalization projects to strengthen the designated communities and areas.
The Arcadia William Tyson Wastewater Treatment Plant project is the highest-funded project in the program. It will receive $6.4 million in state funding to help replace Arcadia’s nearly 50-year-old wastewater treatment plant, which has been functioning out of compliance with state regulations. It is currently the only city in Florida to still utilize a trickling sewer plant.
The aging plant has been hampering the city’s growth and development. Since the treatment plant can’t handle new sewer hookups, new development in Arcadia has been halted. The old plant has also created serious health and environmental issues. Nearly five years ago, the city was told by the Florida Department of Enviromental Protection (DEP) to build a new plant. Since then, the city has raised approximately $51 million in state and federal grants. The newly announced $6.4 million award brings the project to just about $3 million short of being fully funded.
The highest-funded counties and cities in this round of awards include:
- Florida City – $5.9 million for wastewater system upgrades across nine service areas.
- Live Oak – $4.5 million for water infrastructure and housing initiatives, including $3 million for potable water system improvements and $1.5 million to rehabilitate or replace 21 low-income households.
- Webster – $2.9 million for a new master lift station and emergency generator.
- Lake Butler – $2.8 million to replace undersized wastewater pipes with new force main lines.
- Port St. Joe – $1.7 million for neighborhood infrastructure improvements, such as underground utilities, sidewalks and landscaping.
- Green Cove Springs – $1.2 million for stormwater infrastructure improvements.
- Blountstown – $1 million to replace aging water and sewer lines and to improve streets.
- Liberty County – $1 million to improve Veterans Memorial Park.
- Santa Rosa County – $1 million to construct a retention pond at Whiting Aviation Park.
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