$22 million awarded to 15 Florida communities for broadband, other improvements

FLORIDA — The cities of Tampa, Orlando, Key West, and Miami Beach are among the 15 Florida communities receiving a total of $22 million in federal funds to support projects including expanding broadband internet services, improvements to community centers, and small business grants.

Governor Ron DeSantis announced the funding awards on Friday. He also announced that in this year’s budget, he will be approving more than $460,000 to add two new covered pavilions and an eight-foot-wide boardwalk at the Bird Creek Boat Ramp in Levy County.

Administered by The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), CDBG-CV funds are federally awarded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and designed to help local governments prepare for, prevent, or respond to the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.

Awarded projects must be critical to the locality and primarily benefit low- and moderate-income residents. Local governments are encouraged to include activities that benefit workforce housing, training, sustainability, and broadband infrastructure and planning.

The following communities will receive funding awards through the Community Development Block Grant – CV Small Cities and Entitlement Programs:

• Town of Otter Creek ($1,426,343) – to address historical broadband deficiencies by providing high-speed broadband connection to the town’s residents.
• City of Key West ($4,300,000) – to reconstruct and improve a homeless shelter that will provide around-the-clock services to community members in need.
• Town of Astatula ($3,852,745) – to bring high-speed broadband connection to the residents of Astatula, addressing a historical need.
• City of Hawthorne ($3,538,035) – to construct a new Hawthorne Area Resource Center (HARC) that will provide foodbank, medical, and outreach services.

• City of Fellsmere ($2,755,000) – to provide high-speed broadband connection to the residents of Fellsmere.
• City of Orlando ($1,586,717) – to provide support to small businesses, students, and families through a number of public assistance projects.
• City of Tampa ($1,473,655) – to fund the City’s Creative Academic Readiness Education (CARE) to prepare toddlers for pre-K and kindergarten.
• DeSoto County ($1,020,000) – to support DeSoto county’s homeless population by providing transitional housing, running water, and hygiene services.
• Marion County ($505,729) – to expand capacity capabilities for Marion County Children’s Advocacy Center’s continued growth.
• City of Port St. Lucie ($423,707) – to fund grants to local small businesses in low-income areas.
• City of Miami Gardens ($412,246) – to replace three HVAC units on the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex, the city’s main community facility.

• City of Miami Beach ($381,620) – to provide direct financial assistance to homeowners in need.
• City of Deerfield Beach ($244,579) – to strengthen the city’s workforce through a workforce education program and to launch the Senior Technology Program to increase seniors’ quality of life.
• City of Tamarac ($181,156) – to provide mortgage, rent, re-housing, and utility assistance for community members in need.
• Village of Wellington ($130,288) – to increase the size of the Boys and Girls Club facility, allowing for increased community outreach and participation.

For more information about the CDBG-CV Program, please visit FloridaJobs.org/CDBG-CV.

DeSantis also approved $464,080 to provide for the completion of improvements to the Levy County Bird Creek Boat Ramp in the 2022-23 budget.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce and community development efforts, expediting economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities, and promote economic resiliency. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit FloridaJobs.org.