DeSantis disperses awards for workforce training, infrastructure and hurricane relief
LIVE OAK, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced multiple funding awards to help counties in parts of northern Florida develop infrastructure, workforce training and continue recovery from 2023’s Hurricane Idalia.
Of the awards, $50 million came from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, appropriated by the legislature last year, for hurricane relief. That money went to 10 counties to help 13 projects.
Additionally, $9.2 million came from the state’s job growth grant fund. Of that, $5 million went to the Big Bend Technical College in Taylor County for a new manufacturing teaching facility, $2.2 million to Suwannee and $2 million to Madison.
DeSantis had credited and thanked the Florida Legislature for passing the hurricane relief funds in a special session last year after Idalia.
The governor also again emphasized the importance of workforce training.
The announcement comes after the governor last month dispersed additional funding for Hurricane Idalia-impacted homeowners, infrastructure relief and more at a press conference in Cedar Key.
On top of those awards, the governor announced another disbursement of $6.8 million through the Florida Department of Transportation’s Small Community Outreach Program. That award is to help road improvement projects in rural counties: $2.2 million for Taylor, $1.5 million for Levy, $1.2 million for Madison, $1.2 million for Suwannee and $769,000 for Jefferson.
