Released by Governor Ron DeSantis’ Office …
Northwest Florida to receive an additional $287 million for a total of $735 million; Irma-impacted areas to receive an additional $38.6 million for a total of $1.36 billion
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis thanked President Donald Trump and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson for allocating an additional $326 million in hurricane recovery dollars for areas impacted by Hurricanes Michael and Irma. Northwest Florida is receiving an additional $287 million for a total of $735 million to-date for Hurricane Michael. Irma-impacted areas are receiving an additional $38.6 million for a total of $1.36 billion to-date.
These funds are provided through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program and will address seriously damaged housing, businesses and infrastructure from disasters that occurred since 2017.
“On behalf of our entire state, I thank President Trump and Secretary Carson for announcing an additional $326 million in funds to areas impacted by both Hurricanes Michael and Irma,” said Governor DeSantis. “Thanks to the continued commitment from President Trump and his administration, we have secured more than $735 million in hurricane recovery dollars for Northwest Florida alone, which is critical to our ongoing recovery efforts in the region. These funds will address housing and infrastructure needs so our communities may continue to rebuild and emerge stronger than ever before.”
“On behalf of the communities devastated by Hurricane Michael and our agency, I would like to thank the President and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the additional $287 million coming to restore Florida’s Panhandle,” said Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Ken Lawson. “Our team has already begun working with communities throughout the Florida Panhandle to document and thoroughly understand their continued unmet needs after Hurricane Michael. Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, we will help these communities rebuild stronger and more resilient.”
“We are grateful to the President and Governor for their continued commitment to Northwest Florida, as well as areas impacted by Hurricane Irma,” said Florida’s Chief Resilience Officer Julia Nesheiwat. “This investment into Florida’s Panhandle will go a long way toward rebuilding communities stronger and more resilient than before and restoring hope for the hardworking people impacted by Hurricane Michael’s devastation.”