PUBLIC NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO THE REBUILD FLORIDA INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

PUBLIC NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO THE REBUILD FLORIDA INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

In April 2018, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that the State of Florida would receive $475,000,000 in funding to support long-term mitigation efforts following Hurricanes Hermine, Matthew, and Irma through HUD’s newly created Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) Program. This funding is intended to address mitigation needs to ensure the State of Florida is more resilient to future natural disasters.  The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is the lead agency and responsible entity for administering the CDBG-MIT funds allocated to the State, and they launched the Rebuild Florida Critical Facility Hardening Program to fund the hardening of critical buildings that serve a public purpose for local communities. This 100% grant funding (no local match required) is intended to enable critical facilities to better withstand the effects of identified hazard risks such as flooding, severe storms, tropical cyclones, coastal erosion, and wildfires. Plant City has been designated as eligible to apply for this funding.  In accordance with guidance supplied by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and HUD relevant to the impacts of COVID-19, the public input requirements for this program include the option to post information about proposed funding projects on a public website with the provision of a 14-day public comment period.  A copy of this post and any public comments received will be provided to the DEO as part of the funding application submitted.

The City is proposing the following project for grant funding by this program in the estimated amount of $8,200,000:  McIntosh Preserve Wetlands, located at 775 East Knights Griffin Road Plant City, Florida 33565. This project will reduce flooding and increase resiliency. To submit public comments please email Lynn Spivey.