Florida officials have announced over $7.1 million in awards to nine state communities’ drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects through the Rural Infrastructure Fund (FIF) program.
The following communities will receive awards through the program:
- City of Gretna ($3,501,840) — to extend water, sewer, and roadway infrastructure for a new manufacturing business in an underdeveloped commercial site.
- City of Macclenny ($905,000) – to extend the City’s water and sewer utilities to allow business development in an underdeveloped area and serve the local elementary school.
- Suwannee County ($764,601) — to extend sewer infrastructure to support a new hotel and businesses at the I-10 interchange.
- City of Palatka ($555,518) — to replace aged and failing potable water lines along an economic corridor to support economic activity and retain 15 jobs.
- City of Apalachicola ($300,000) — to conduct planning and design for improvements to the City’s stormwater conveyance system.
- City of Lawtey ($300,000) — to complete the first phase of the City’s design effort to upgrade its municipal water distribution system.
- Town of White Springs ($300,000) — to conduct Town-wide water system improvements, including water main and service replacements, extensions, and upgrades.
- City of Belle Glade ($291,732) — to conduct planning and design for stormwater improvements throughout the City’s downtown area.
- Hardee County ($235,000) — to conduct planning and design for significant sewer improvements within Pioneer Park.
Administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the RIF program provides funding to facilitate the planning, preparing, and financing of infrastructure projects in rural communities, which encourages job creation, capital investment, and the strengthening and diversification of rural economies.
“These strategic investments in our rural communities are important to families and businesses in rural Florida,” says Governor Ron DeSantis. “Our rural communities are the backbone of our state and strengthening their infrastructure strengthens Florida as a whole.”
Eligible activities for the program include improvements to public infrastructure for industrial or commercial sites, upgrades to or development of public tourism infrastructure, improvements to access and availability of broadband internet service, and improvements to inadequate infrastructure that has resulted in regulatory action.
