WAKULLA COUNTY (August 13, 2021) | Wakulla County anticipates applying for Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Program (GIP) funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address unmet disaster recovery needs related to damage from Hurricane Michael. This program is being administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program. A total of $223,032,145 in funding has been allocated by DEO for the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Program.

Wakulla County has been designated as eligible to apply for this funding.  In accordance with guidance supplied by DEO, the public input requirements for this program include the option to post information about proposed funding projects on a public website as well as in a newspaper of general circulation with the provision of a 10-day public comment period.  A copy of this post and any public comments received will be provided to the DEO as part of the funding application submitted. The public comment period begins 8:00 AM EST Friday, August 13, 2021 and ends 5:00 PM EST Monday, August 23, 2021.

Wakulla County anticipates applying for grant funding for the following project under the CDBG-DR Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Program as detailed:

Project 1:  $2,485,704 – Otter Creek Rise Bridge Replacement. Otter Creek Rise Bridge located on County Road 372 (Surf Road), sustained damage from Hurricane Michael in October 2018. Emergency repairs were made at that time however this bridge should be replaced. The County will request funds to secure engineering and design, demolition, and construction of a new bridge.

To comment on the Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Program – CDBG-DR project, please contact: Michelle Metcalf at mmetcalf@mywakulla.com or by U.S. mail to Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners, Attention: Michelle Metcalf, P.O. Box 1263, Crawfordville, FL 32326. All comments from the public must be received no later than 5:00pm Monday, August 23, 2021.  

All comments will be considered, and proposed changes will be submitted to DEO. Additional information relating to the proposed project and application is available for review by request via the contact information listed above.