Ft. Myers Beach receives $10 million in state aid for stormwater assistance
Governor Ron DeSantis announced today that the Town of Fort Myers Beach has received $10 million as part of a Hurricane Stormwater and Wastewater Assistance Grant Program created during the Florida legislature’s special session in December 2022, Town of Fort Myers Beach Communications Director Jennifer Dexter announced.
According to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Interim Manager’s office, the funds will be used to make repairs to hurricane damage and for upgrades to the town’s stormwater drainage system that were underway before the hurricane. “Storm damage is mostly paid by FEMA but the pre-storm upgrades would have to be paid for out of storm water fee revenue. This $10 million will help us address both and help reduce storm water fees to our citizens,” Fort Myers Beach Interim Manager Keith Wilkins said.
“This program is for local governments that were heavily impacted in 2022 by Hurricane Ian or Nicole to rebuild their stormwater and wastewater systems and make them more resilient,” Dexter stated in the announcement.
“This is the largest amount that the Town could have received from this grant program, and we are grateful to Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislators, as well as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, for recognizing the Town’s need and providing for it,” said Interim Town Manager Keith Wilkins.
The Town’s Public Works staff and state consultants from Tidal Basin Group worked together in March to prepare and submit a grant application for consideration. This grant program is managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Dexter stated.