Gabrielle Russon
The state is giving $38 million to help 19 rural communities as Gov. Ron DeSantis and other officials push to support small towns.
“We’ve made investing in our rural communities a priority because I think ultimately it’s an important foundation for the state, not just economically but culturally and historically as well,” DeSantis said at a press conference in Arcadia.
Arcadia, Florida City, Lake Butler and several other rural cities are receiving Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grants to make infrastructure upgrades and other improvements.
The state grant program has awarded more than $138 million to 120 small communities since 2019, DeSantis said.
The next round of grants will send $6.4 million to the city of Arcadia for upgrades at its wastewater treatment plant that serves 8,000 residents.
“The city’s sole wastewater treatment plan is aging and frequently failing. It poses both environmental and health risks,” DeSantis said.
Florida City will be awarded $5.9 million for wastewater treatment plan improvements at nine service areas.
The city of Webster was awarded $2.89 million to install a new master lift station and a new emergency generator while $2.8 million is helping Lake Butler replace water lines.
Meanwhile, Liberty County will get $1 million to finish upgrades at Veterans Memorial Park. Another $1 million will go to Santa Rosa County to build a retention pond at the Whiting Aviation Park.
DeSantis disclosed that several other small communities are getting state dollars for housing initiatives or other infrastructure projects. Several of the municipalities getting grants are also reeling from hurricane damage last year.
“It’s easy for me to be supportive of rural Florida because it’s who I am. That is who my family has been for six generations,” said Senate President Ben Albritton, who joined DeSantis at the press conference to advocate for the agricultural community. “Rural Florida is important.”
