December 2019 Update

Rebuild Florida  is a program of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) created to support communities following disasters by addressing long-term recovery needs for housing, infrastructure and economic development.

DIRECTOR'S UPDATE

As we approach the holidays and the start of a new year, I'm excited to look back on the milestones that have occurred since our last newsletter. Since  Rebuild Florida launched in September of last year, we've been pushing forward with efforts to help Floridians recover from past disasters and at the same time be more resilient to future storms. With unwavering support from our Governor and invaluable partnerships with communities across the state, we've been able to achieve several breakthroughs in the past two months. Today, I'm excited to share these updates with you. Since our last newsletter, DEO: Awarded more than $44 million to Florida communities through the Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program. Held seven community workshops on the Community Development Block Grant - Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) program across the state and posted an initial draft of the State Action Plan online for public comment. Received a commitment from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of an additional $326 million in Hurricane Recovery funding for areas impacted by Hurricanes Michael and Irma. We continue to accept applications for the Rebuild Florida Workforce Recovery Training program to train workers in Irma-impacted communities in construction trades necessary for disaster recovery. While we wait for the required guidance from HUD to receive announced Hurricane Michael funding, now totaling $735 million, we continue to gather feedback on unmet Hurricane Michael recovery needs and priorities of impacted communities through an online survey. On behalf of everyone on the Rebuild Florid team, I wish you a wonderful holiday season, and hope you enjoy reading about what is happening in our mission to help Florida communities rebuild from recent storms and move forward into a more resilient future. Sincerely, Ken

IN THE NEWS

$326 Million in Additional Federal Funding Allocated for Disaster Recovery in Michael and Irma-Impacted Areas

On December 3, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated an additional $326 million in hurricane recovery dollars for areas impacted by Hurricanes Michael and Irma. Northwest Florida is receiving an additional $287 million for a total of $735 million for Hurricane Michael recovery. Irma-impacted areas are receiving an additional $38.6 million for a total of $1.36 billion to-date for Hurricane Irma recovery. Learn more

$44 Million Awarded to Communities Through Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program

Also on December 3, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that more than $44 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding has been awarded to 11 Florida communities impacted by Hurricane Irma through DEO's Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program. Learn more

State Action Plan for Mitigation Posted for Public Comment

On December 6, DEO posted an initial draft of the State Action Plan for the $633 million in Community Development Block Grant - Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funding available to Florida for disasters in 2016 and 2017 on RebuildFlorida.gov for public comment. All Floridians are encouraged to review the State Action Plan. Comments on the State Action Plan may be submitted to DEO until January 20, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. EST.  Development of the State Action Plan involves input from agency partners and local communities. In October, DEO hosted a series of seven community workshops around Florida to educate community members about the program and gather feedback. Resources to learn about the CDBG-MIT program are available on RebuildFlorida.gov . Learn more

PROGRAM UPDATES

Hurricane Irma Housing Repair and Replacement Program

Above, Rebuild Florida participant Eric Levine with his Rebuild Florida representative outside his home in Fort Meyers, Florida. After receiving feedback from impacted communities, DEO continues to accept registrations for the Hurricane Irma Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement Program . Want to register? You can do so online at RebuildFlorida.gov , in person at a Rebuild Florida center , or by phone by calling 844-833-1010. Learn more 

Rebuild Florida Workforce Recovery Training Program

There is still time remaining for eligible educational institutions, technical centers and local workforce development boards to submit applications for the $20 million available through Rebuild Florida’s Workforce Recovery Training Program. The program will provide grant funding to launch or expand training programs for construction trades in Hurricane Irma-impacted communities.  The application cycle opened on October 28, 2019, and will run through January 10, 2020. Learn more

Infrastructure Repair Program

The application period for the Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program closed on October 31, 2019.   The program will award $85 million to local governments in  communities impacted by Hurricane Irma . Grant funding will be used by local governments to restore and improve infrastructure in areas damaged by Hurricane Irma or as match funding for other federal programs to carry out eligible , federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) infrastructure activity. Learn more 

Hurricane Michael Long-Term Recovery Survey

While the federal guidance necessary to release allocated funds to the state for Hurricane Michael has not been published, Rebuild Florida is moving forward with every step possible to hit the ground running once the guidance is made available. Input from local stakeholders is important to this process. We’ve created an online survey to generate feedback on unmet recovery needs and long-term recovery priorities of impacted communities. We invite those in affected areas to participate in the online survey.

Hurricane Michael Survey

DISASTER RECOVERY RESOURCES

Stay in touch View previous issues of this newsletter and sign up to receive program-specific updates here.

Ways to Register for the Hurricane Irma Rebuild Florida Housing Program Online at www.RebuildFlorida.gov  Over the phone at 844.833.1010 At a RebuildFlorida Center

Helpful Links: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Office of Disaster Recovery HUD CDBG-DR Overview (Document)  HUD CDBG-DR Overview (Video) www.RebuildFlorida.gov