REBUILD FLORIDA CDBG-MIT GENERAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION PUBLIC NOTICE

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In response to presidentially declared disasters in 2016 and 2017, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that $633 million in first-of-its-kind funding would be made available to the state of Florida for disaster mitigation projects. These funds are available through HUD’s newly created Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) and will be used to fund disaster mitigation programs to better protect Florida from future disasters.

Administered by the State of Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), a federally required State Action Plan was developed in partnership with state agencies, as well as with input from local communities and stakeholders to determine Florida’s most critical disaster mitigation needs. 

On June 15, 2020, DEO launched the Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Program (GIP), making a total of $475,000,000 available for eligible applicants, including units of general local government (UGLG). The funds will be dispersed across three application cycles, with $150 million being made available in its first round this year. The GIP is designed to provide funding opportunities for local governments and state agencies to develop large-scale mitigation activities that allow Florida communities to better withstand future disasters. Final proposals are due to DEO on Sept. 14, 2020.

Pinellas County will be submitting three (3) proposals requesting a total of up to $62 million to GIP to fund hurricane readiness, flood mitigation, and watershed restoration projects, with the City of St. Petersburg joining as a co-applicant for hurricane readiness. As we pursue this funding opportunity, we would appreciate your comments on the proposed projects. Comments are due by 5 p.m. on Sept. 10, 2020.

Joe’s Creek Greenway Restoration and Mitigation

Pinellas County is seeking $26 million in funding to improve the resiliency in the Joe’s Creek Watershed. This project is for preliminary engineering, design and construction of the Joe's Creek Greenway Restoration, adjacent main channel improvements, regional stormwater facility, multimodal trail, and projects identified by the watershed management plan for watershed-wide flood protection, erosion control, and water quality improvements to minimize risk, improve resiliency, and catalyze redevelopment in the Lealman CRA and in the low to moderate income areas of the watershed. These efforts are highly interdependent and will benefit from a coordinated single project approach. 

Projects include the Joe's Creek Greenway Trail, main channel restoration and lower floodplain creation, Lealman regional stormwater facility, culvert restoration and upgrades, channel improvements, erosion control measures, dry retention, and improvements affecting main channel tributary systems. Other projects include local improvements to stormwater management facilities and roadways in Lealman and Kenneth City utilizing low-impact development, green infrastructure, and complete streets. 

Resilient Pinellas Utilities Program (RPUP)

Pinellas County Utilities and the City of Saint Petersburg are seeking $28 million to complete the Resilient Pinellas Utilities Program (RPUP). This project will increase the structural integrity for wind and flood hazards for up to five (5) Pinellas County Utilities and three (3) City of Saint Petersburg operations facilities, which are currently used for their countywide water and sewer emergency operations and are critical during emergencies. The goal of the Resilient Pinellas Utilities Program is to provide benefit to low and middle-income households throughout Pinellas County through the implementation of a coordinated approach to provide the necessary infrastructure to ensure continuous water delivery, wastewater conveyance and treatment, and collection system continuity to residents who shelter in place or shelter in County shelters, through up to a Category 4 hurricane and other flooding events.

Pinellas Community Center Shelter Hardening Projects

Pinellas County is seeking $7 million in funding for local emergency shelter improvements. This project focuses on addressing the countywide need for additional risk sheltering space during tropical events, step-down sheltering after a tropical event and community sheltering after inclement weather. The improvements to these two sites will provide almost 800 general population or 400 special needs shelter spaces that will contribute to filling our countywide shelter deficit. These community shelters serve year-round for the communities of Palm Harbor and Lealman by providing community-based services. These sites are ideal for risk sheltering, step-down sheltering and other emergency needs. This project proposes energy and space improvements, exterior mitigation, roof and building

Questions?

This project would play a critical role in mitigating our current and future risks and strengthening our resiliency. We appreciate your interest, and your input is invaluable in attaining the project goals. Please share your thoughts on the proposed project(s) by clicking on the Add Your Statement tab below. Questions may be submitted to the project lead at the email address below.

Hank Hodde, CFM, ENV SP

Sustainability & Resiliency Program Coordinator

[email protected]

Learn more about: Rebuild Florida's Mitigation Programs