Escambia County is pleased to announce over $70 million in grant funding has been awarded from the state of Florida to support long-term recovery efforts in the county following Hurricane Sally. The funding is part of $187 million awarded by Governor Ron DeSantis to communities impacted by Hurricane Sally through
the Florida Department of Commerce’s (FloridaCommerce) Rebuild Florida program.
Rebuild Florida provides funding for local governments to strategically rebuild
homes and harden infrastructure to prevent or mitigate losses from future
disasters through multiple avenues. Through the Rebuild Florida program, Escambia County has received a total of $70,116,882.
"We're extremely grateful to Governor DeSantis and state leadership, along with our local delegation - Senator Doug Broxson, Representative Alex Andrade and Representative Michelle Salzman - for awarding us this funding," said County Administrator Wes Moreno. "I also want to thank our staff for their hard work under a tight timeline throughout the grant process and their dedication to improving the lives of Escambia County residents. The funding will strengthen our county infrastructure and build resiliency for years to come."
Escambia County was awarded funding for the following projects:
Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program: $52,946,768
- Escambia County Area Transit ($26,550,000): New ECAT energy-efficient Escambia County Transit Center and solar-powered bus shelters at the facility with ADA upgrades. This will also serve as an emergency shelter
- Regional Stormwater Drainage Improvements ($26,396,768): Improvements to stormwater drainage in areas including Oakfield Acres/Palafox, Monroe Avenue, Brickyard Road, Olive Road, and PHS Drainage Improvements Phase I, II and II, and Carver Park Phase II
Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program: $3,170,114
- Hurricane Sally Voluntary Home Buyout: Designed to encourage risk reduction through the purchase of residential property in high flood-risk areas to help reduce the impact of future disasters.
Rebuild Florida Hometown Revitalization Program: $5,000,000
- ECAT Solar Powered Community Bus Shelters with ADA Upgrades: Improvement of streetscapes and solar-powered lighting. Bus shelters will provide necessary refuge during inclement weather for those connecting to employment, educational opportunities, and other services, as well as provide the necessary lighting to feel safe and secure, especially when traveling before sunrise or after sunset.
Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement Program: $9,000,000
- Hurricane Sally Housing, Repair, Replacement and Mitigation Project: Designed to repair, replace, or reconstruct homes damaged by Hurricane Sally.
For more information about these projects and other Rebuild Florida programs, visit MyEscambia.com/sallyrecoverygrant.
