DeSantis awarded $15 million to five rural areas. See which places are getting an infrastructure boost

Rural areas across the state will soon receive a critical infrastructure makeover due to a law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last week.

DeSantis announced more than $15 million in awards to five rural communities through the Rural Infrastructure Fund program.

From the Panhandle to the southern end of the state, this new law seeks to support community economic development projects that will strengthen public infrastructure and expand job opportunities for residents. Awards for the RIF program include millions to two northern counties and three cities sprinkled throughout the state.

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“Today, I am proud to announce that five rural Florida communities will be receiving awards to foster resiliency and economic growth,” DeSantis said in a press release. “These infrastructure investments will pave the way for new job opportunities and business growth for Floridians.”

What does this new infrastructure bill mean for rural Florida?

HB 1209 aims to expand the existing Rural Infrastructure Fund program. With these new changes, counties designated as "fiscally constrained" would see 100% of their project costs covered, eliminating a rule that first required them to pay for the projects before they could seek reimbursements from the state.

Administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity, the RIF program facilitates the planning, preparation, and financing of infrastructure projects in rural communities. Funded projects encourage job creation, capital investment, and the strengthening and diversification of rural economies.

The following communities will receive awards through the RIF program:

Suwannee County

The Panhandle's Suwanee County will be awarded $9.6 million to construct a wastewater treatment plant and install collection lines to create 269 jobs.

The Suwannee County award through the RIF program is in conjunction with the more than $1.9 million Governor DeSantis awarded last year to Suwannee County through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund for infrastructure expansion in August 2022, and more than $760,000 awarded to Suwannee County through RIF in December 2022 for infrastructure to support economic development opportunities.

Jackson County

Jackson County will receive over $3.3 million to extend water and wastewater lines to a project site and construct two stormwater treatment ponds to support the site’s development and create up to 150 jobs and $27 million in capital investment.

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City of Macclenny

The city located within Baker County will receive over $1.1 million to complete critical improvements and upgrades to the City of Macclenny’s deteriorating water treatment plant at Northeast Florida State Hospital to create 40 new jobs and $22 million in capital investments.

City of Fort Meade

Located in Polk County, Fort Meade will receive $969,900 to make stormwater improvements in the city’s historic downtown commercial corridor to reduce flooding and improve stormwater management to retain jobs and draw new businesses to the area.

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City of Umatilla

Located in Lake County, Umatilla will receive $482,500 to provide increased water and sewer service capacity to the Umatilla Industrial Park to create 10 new jobs and provide $12 million in capital investment.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: DeSantis awarded millions in rural infrastructure repairs. Here's why