Escambia County was notified today that the county's RESTORE Multi-Year Implementation Plan has been approved by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, with the department finding the plan to be complete and conforming to RESTORE Act regulations.
The county's MYIP includes 10 projects selected by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners for a total of $8,638,650 of the funds available in Escambia County's allocation in the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. The approval comes after a three-year process that included diligent efforts from the RESTORE Advisory Committee, along with a 45-day public comment period for citizens to give input on the projects.
"This is an exciting day for Escambia County," District 4 Commissioner Grover Robinson said. "While nearly eight years after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, we are finally set up to begin spending monies for restoration. More importantly, these are the first funds spent on restoration that were directed by Escambia County citizens specifically. I'm excited by the implementation of all 10 projects, and I believe they will begin to promote both environmental and economic restoration for our citizens."
Treasury's acceptance of the MYIP is not a final determination for the projects, but the approval allows Escambia County to begin individual grant applications for the projects included in the MYIP. The Treasury Department will review the applications to determine if the requested funding complies with the RESTORE Act and regulations, along with federal law and policies on grants. It is anticipated that final adoption of grant awards will occur in February 2018, with projects beginning shortly thereafter.
About the MYIP
The MYIP prioritizes eligible activities for Direct Component (Pot 1) funds awarded to the county through the Deepwater Horizon Settlement and RESTORE Act, or the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012. The Multi-Year Implementation Plan also seeks to obtain broad-based participation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes and nonprofit organizations.
For more information and to view Escambia County's MYIP,
click here. 
