Five Florida Rural Areas to Receive Millions in Funding. What Does it Mean for Floridians?

Photo byPhoto 121011163 © Gary wonning

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans to fund and support the development of rural towns throughout the state.

The Sunshine State's rural infrastructure needs to improve. Tourism, quality of life, and jobs are on the line. Many towns in Florida need better water treatment, sewers, and stormwater facilities.

DeSantis announced that the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) program would pay more than $15 million to five rural municipalities.

This new law aims to assist neighborhood economic development initiatives that will improve public infrastructure and increase employment possibilities for locals from the Panhandle to the state's southernmost point.

HB 1209 intends to expand the existing Rural Infrastructure Fund program.

As part of the RIF scheme, millions have been given to two northern counties and three scattered cities.

With these proposed adjustments, counties deemed "fiscally constrained" would have 100% of their project expenses paid, doing away with a restriction that obliged them to pay for the projects first before asking the state for reimbursement.

Infrastructure projects in rural communities can be planned, prepared, and financed more quickly through the RIF program.

Suwanee County in the Panhandle will get $9.6 million to build a wastewater treatment facility and put in collection lines, which will create 269 jobs.

Jackson County will receive over $3.3 million to build two stormwater treatment ponds and bring water and wastewater pipes to a project site.

The community in Baker County will get more than $1.1 million to finish necessary modifications and additions to the aging water treatment facility in the neighborhood of Macclenny.

The City of Fort Meade will receive a $969,900 grant to improve stormwater in the city's historic downtown.

Umatilla will get $482,500 to enhance the capacity of its water and sewer systems to the Umatilla Industrial Park.

What do you think about the new rural infrastructure plan?

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