GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – Small cities and counties in Florida are about to get some extra funding from the state.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Monday his administration along with the Department of Economic Opportunity will award nearly $30 million dollars in grants under a new program.
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The governor announced the Community Development Block Grant Program during a news conference at Green Cove Springs, one of the beneficiaries of the program. The Clay County town is south of Jacksonville.
“We want to use our resources to be able to make the biggest impacts across Florida,” the governor said.
The governor said the new grant program will distribute $29 million across 42 small and rural communities throughout the state. The funds will only be awarded to cities with a population of less than 50,000 or in a county with an unincorporated population of 200,000, according to the governor.
Some of these grants will be used here in Central Florida.
According to a news release from the governor’s office, the city of Apopka will receive $750,000 to repair or replace at least 11 low-to-moderate-income housing units and provide temporary relocation assistance.
West Melbourne will also get $750,000 to replace water lines.
The city of Bunnell will receive $700,000 to replace inadequate stormwater drainage systems and address other runoff and drainage issues.
At the news conference, DEO secretary Dane Eagle said the funds will help with infrastructure projects and community development, which, in turn, will help boost business in smaller areas in the state.
“We look forward to helping implement this grant program and doing more for economic development,” Eagle said.