City of Bonita Springs identified for $25M in grant funding

The City of Bonita Springs has been identified for $11,021,919.00 through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program for flood resiliency spending. This grant will allow repairs to a stormwater drainage system that experienced extensive flooding during Hurricane Irma.

“After Hurricane Irma, we knew that the top priority for Bonita Springs had to be to Improve Storm Water Management. Financing was an important component, so we got to work and I’m pleased to announce that to date Bonita Springs has been identified for $25,609,919.00 in grant funds. We are dedicated to this priority and this is an example of our commitment to supplement tax dollars when possible with grant funds,” said Mayor Peter Simmons.

Improving stormwater management has been the top strategic priority for City Council since Hurricane Irma. Council commissioned a flood reduction study by the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council to identify flood reduction techniques and potential projects. As a follow-up, the City commissioned detailed flood modeling and project concept development studies to further develop project concepts identified in the Flood Reduction and Mitigation Study.

Congress allocated HUD Community Development Block Grant Funds to Florida for post-Irma disaster relief, including funds for repair of infrastructure.

City Council directed staff to apply for grant funding through FEMA HMGP (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program), CDBG-DR Voluntary Home Buyout Program, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's (DEO) Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program.

Bonita Springs has executed HMGP design funding contracts for $373,125.00 which will result in $9,188,000.00 in HMGP Grant funding to the city. Additionally, the city has been awarded $5,000,000.00 in grant funds from the CDBG-DR Voluntary Home Buyout Program and $400,000.00 throug