Santa Rosa County is considering applying for the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Hurricane Sally Rebuild Florida Hometown Revitalization Program (HRP) through the state of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). This program is designed to support the recovery of economic activity in commercial areas of Hurricane Sally-impacted communities, facilitating the return and recovery of businesses, jobs, and provision of goods and services to the area. Local governments within federal and state Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) areas are eligible to apply for funding through the program. Recovery activities must be directly related to damage caused by Hurricane Sally and recovery activities must provide evidence that documents the damage was caused by Hurricane Sally.
Eligible Activities:
- Public facility improvements, including streetscapes, lighting, sidewalks, and other physical improvements to commercial areas.
- Acquisition, demolition, site preparation, or rehabilitation of commercial structures carried out by a unit of local government.
- Assistance to small businesses for rehabilitation and physical improvements to their places of business.
- Façade improvements to private or public structures in a commercial area. HRP is not a direct grant program. No funds will be paid directly to businesses seeking rehabilitation of their physical structures.
The county intends to apply for $3,000,000 in CDBG-DR funding to consider public facility improvements, including streetscapes, lighting, sidewalks, and other physical improvements to commercial areas, rehabilitation, and physical improvements along the Highway 87 south corridor from Highway 90 south to the Holley community as the area of concern. This funding is being considered for two segments that appear to meet the low-income requirements of the program. The Highway 87 corridor is the major evacuation route from the coast, is lined with commercial and industrial districts, and is critical to our community’s recovery post-disaster and our community’s resilience pre-disaster. One segment (Segment A) is from Highway 90 south to Hickory Hammock Road and the second segment (Segment B) is from Vonnie Tolbert Road south to the East River.
Public comments regarding this proposed application should be directed to HRP@santarosa.fl.gov or Santa Rosa County Grants and Special Programs, 6495 Caroline Street, Suite G, Milton, FL 32570-4595. Comments will be accepted until April 27, 2023 at 4 p.m.
Persons needing special accommodations should call the county's risk management department at 850-983-1863, TTY 711, or email melissal@santarosa.fl.gov at least 48 hours in advance.
Contact Lani Burritt at HRP@santarosa.fl.gov for a copy of the proposed application which will be available once complete.
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