Hurricane Irma relief money awarded to SWFL, state communities

Governor Ron DeSantis held a news conference in Key Largo at the Murray Nelson Government Center Friday.

DeSantis announced nearly $100 million will be awarded to 24 Florida communities impacted by Hurricane Irma through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program. It includes areas of Southwest Florida.

The governor was joined by Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez and DEO Executive Director Dane Eagle.

Watch in the player below or click here.

The program helps communities fund infrastructure restoration and improvement projects in communities impacted by disasters.

The funds are allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.

The Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program provides local governments the opportunity to restore and improve infrastructure in areas damaged by Irma or as match funding for other federal programs to carry out eligible, federal CDBG-DR infrastructure activity.

Money awarded to SWFL for Irma relief

• City of Bonita Springs ($2,958,297) – to increase storage pond drainage capacity.
• City of North Port ($1,150,000) – to improve inflow and infiltration wastewater collection systems.
• City of North Port ($650,440) – to install permanent generators for lift stations.
• Collier County ($602,786.32) – to improve drainage systems to mitigation future flooding.
• Hendry County ($1,635,610) – to improve conveyance and pumping capacity to move stormwater to a larger detention area.
• Lee County ($2,718,577) – to replace sidewalks and roadside drainage systems damaged by the storm.
• Lee County ($732,540) – to clear five canals of vegetation debris and sediment.
• Lee County ($678,566) – to replace the pedestrian bridge and Richmond Avenue over Able Canal and Lehigh Acres