Plan: Remaining COVID Daytona relief funds to benefit storm recovery projects, other needs

Eileen Zaffiro-Kean, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·3 min read

DAYTONA BEACH — The federal government is giving $350 billion to local, state and tribal governments across the country to help them cover costs for their response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that turned life upside down in 2020 and 2021.

Daytona Beach has received a $15 million piece of that total allocation through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program that's a part of the American Rescue Plan and close to half has been spent on things such as affordable housing, hurricane recovery and small business support.

Now top city staff members have sketched out a proposed plan for spending the remaining $8.54 million, and city commissioners will soon make some decisions.

The city of Daytona Beach has spent $1.5 million of its federal COVID recovery funds on a roof replacement program to help preserve affordable housing. Pictured is a construction crew clearing land next to the Clyde Morris Landing affordable apartment and senior housing complex as it was being built out at 1381 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., a mile south of LPGA Boulevard, in Daytona Beach in July 2022.

At city commissioners' next meeting Feb. 15, they'll vote on a general plan city staff put together for the remaining funds.

The $8.54 million plan shows $4.23 million already approved for hurricane relief, restoration of the Josie Rogers House at the Riverfront Esplanade and grant matches.

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At Wednesday night's Daytona Beach City Commission meeting, Deputy City Manager Dru Driscoll ran down the list of COVID recovery fund projects that already have federal dollars obligated to them.

The projects include $2 million for hurricane recovery; $1.5 million for roof replacements to support Daytona's affordable housing; $1 million for small business beautification; and nearly $600,000 to support local youth.

Another $500,000 has gone to community service providers and nonprofits; $353,000 is being used for various community improvements ranging from new park lighting to the Mary McLeod Bethune statue; $300,000 has gone toward development of a small business resource center; and another $300,000 is dedicated to a new public art program.

"It's to provide for the holistic recovery of the Daytona Beach community," Driscoll told commissioners.

The city received $7.5 million in 2021, and another $7.5 million in 2022 through the federal COVID recovery initiative. A little over $1 million remains from the 2021 allocation, and a little less than half of the $7.5 million sent last year is waiting to be committed

Daytona Beach city commissioners will decide in two weeks if they want to use some of their federal COVID relief money for improvements at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Pictured is the Tortugas' opener at the ballpark in April last year.
Daytona Beach city commissioners will decide in two weeks if they want to use some of their federal COVID relief money for improvements at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Pictured is the Tortugas' opener at the ballpark in April last year.

About $1.85 million is tentatively set aside for the mayor and city commissioners to spend on efforts they suggest. They did the same thing with $1.85 million from the 2021 allocation.

With that first $1.85 million, the mayor had $350,000 to spend, and the six city commissioners each had $250,000 for projects in their zones. They'll have those amounts to spend again.

The rest of the proposed expenditures include $743,272 for parks and recreation master plan and design; $670,000 for Jackie Robinson Ballpark improvements; $275,000 for City Island Rec Center rehabilitation; and $250,000 for a police department training center.

The remaining $500,000 is unassigned, but City Manager Deric Feacher suggested at Wednesday's meeting that $200,000 of that could be used to overhaul clay tennis courts at the Florida Tennis Center off of LPGA Boulevard.

"I think it's a good and reasonable idea," Mayor Derrick Henry said.

You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Storm recovery efforts tops on list to receive COVID relief funding