Posted on June 13, 2022
West Palm Beach – Wednesday June 8, 2022: Governor DeSantis Wednesday highlighted more than $500 million for resiliency included in the FY 2022-23 budget.
The investment includes more than $270 million to fully fund all three years of the state’s first ever Statewide Flooding Resilience Plan and an additional $180 million for the state’s next plan which will be submitted later this year. The Freedom First Budget also includes up to $40 million for Resilient Florida Planning Grants to help communities develop and update comprehensive vulnerability assessments.
“Florida has become one of the most proactive states in the nation in addressing environmental resiliency of our communities,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Following historic funding last year, the Freedom First Budget keeps this momentum going by continuing to take strong steps to ensure state and local communities are prepared to deal with the impacts of storm surge, hurricanes, and flooding.”
Since 2019 more than $1.1 billion has been directed to enhancing the resilience of natural and built infrastructure across Florida, including:
• Awarding over $404 million for 113 environmental resilience projects across the state, which will help prepare coastal and inland communities for the adverse impacts of flooding and storm surge.
• Announcing the first ever Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan, which includes funding proposals for 76 infrastructure projects across the state totaling over $270 million over a three-year period.
• Awarding nearly $20 million for 98 projects across the state to develop or update comprehensive vulnerability assessments in inland and coastal communities.
Building on the success of the prior three years’ investments, the Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget includes more than $500 million dedicated to increasing the resilience of Florida’s communities.
“Florida’s unique natural resources demand a collaborative, balanced approach. Our resources support a diverse suite of needs and uses, and addressing those needs while ensuring conservation for future generations through policy and projects is critical,” said DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton. “As a result of the leadership of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, we are better situated to tackle this mission today than ever in our state’s history.”
Additionally, Governor DeSantis announced that the application portal for many of the environmental grant programs is open. Portals to apply for the Wastewater Grant Program, Innovative Technologies, and Water Quality Improvements for Biscayne Bay and Springs Coast Watersheds are now open and can be found here. Portals to apply for additional programs, including the Resilient Florida Program, will be open soon.
