Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a Friday press conference in Key Largo. DeSantis announced $16.7 million for Hurricane Irma-related projects.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JOIN GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS AT KEY LARGO INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT 

KEY LARGO, FL – Monroe County Mayor Michelle Coldiron, Mayor Pro Tem David Rice, Commissioners Mike Forster and Eddie Martinez, and County Administrator Roman Gastesi joined Governor Ron DeSantis today at his Key Largo press conference where he announced funding of $16.7 million for three Hurricane Irma-impacted projects in unincorporated Monroe County and two City of Key West projects. Lt. Governor Jeanette Nunez, DEO Executive Director Dane Eagle, Rep. Jim Mooney and Sen. Ileana Garcia were also present at the press conference.

The projects will be funded through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Infrastructure Repair Program and allocated through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. CDBG-DR funded projects must be disaster-related and contribute to the long-term recovery of communities after a hurricane.

  • Monroe County ($8,181,489) – to install a stormwater collection, treatment, and disposal system designed to assist neighborhoods with repetitive flooding.
  • Monroe County ($1,353,986) – to assist in mitigation and potential of destroyed or heavily damaged homes from future storm surge during a storm event in Key Largo.
  • Monroe County ($2,194,599) – to prevent flooding and sea level rise and maintain better water quality.
  • City of Key West ($3,563,054) – to improve an existing sewage force main bridge crossing.
  • City of Key West ($1,376,270) – to install stormwater infrastructure to alleviate future damage to residential areas.

In the absence of more detailed information at this time, it is likely the funding for unincorporated Monroe County is for a Rock Harbor breakwater project in Key Largo, a Tavernier breakwater project, and the Sands Subdivision road elevation project in Big Pine Key.

“Monroe County is still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Irma even more than three years later, and this funding will help make our communities and infrastructure more resilient in future storms and prevent costly damage,” said Michelle Coldiron. “These funds were made possible by the County staff who worked diligently to shepherd these important projects through a competitive and challenging grant process.”

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