North Florida News

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces $187 Million in Awards for Communities Impacted by Hurricane Sally

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2023

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $187 million to communities impacted by Hurricane Sally through the Florida Department of Commerce’s (Florida Commerce) Rebuild Florida program. Rebuild Florida provides funding for local governments to strategically rebuild homes and harden infrastructure to prevent or mitigate losses from future disasters through multiple avenues.

“My administration has prioritized supporting businesses and communities impacted by hurricanes while they get back on their feet,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today, I am happy to announce $187 million in awards to aid in recovery efforts following Hurricane Sally – an important step in helping Northwest Florida recover.”

“Thanks to the outstanding leadership of Governor DeSantis, today’s $187 million in awards will help Northwest Florida rebuild and become more resilient following Hurricane Sally,” said Florida Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly. “From repairing and replacing homes to championing workforce development and supporting infrastructure projects, these disaster recovery funds will ensure Hurricane Sally-impacted communities have the resources they need to be made whole again.”

“Florida Housing is honored to work with Florida Commerce and Governor DeSantis to address the workforce housing needs of those impacted by Hurricane Sally,” said Mike DiNapoli, Executive Director of Florida Housing Finance Corporation. “The Workforce Affordable Housing Construction Program is critical in helping affected communities address workforce housing shortages following major storm damage.”

“Governor Ron DeSantis continues to make good on his promise to support Northwest Florida communities with vital resources to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Sally,” said Senator Doug Broxson. “Today’s awards will go a very long way to get people back in their homes and build up vital infrastructure to strengthen Northwest Florida’s resiliency in the face of future storms.”

The Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program

The Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program provides funding for local governments to strategically rebuild and harden infrastructure in order to prevent or mitigate losses from future disasters. Communities will receive awards through the Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program for Hurricane Sally for the following projects:

City of Pensacola ($39,686,539.86) – to facilitate a stormwater infrastructure project at Hollice T. Williams Park to improve water quality and reduce stormwater in the area, to repair infrastructure at the Port of Pensacola, and to repair and improve infrastructure at the Fricker Center.
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners ($52,946,768) – to build a new state-of-the-art, energy-efficient and resilient Escambia County Area Transit Center and to make regional stormwater drainage improvements in low- and moderate-income neighborhood
Town of Century ($12,877,137) – to demolish the old Century High School Gym building located at 440 East Hecker Road and build a shelter that can also be used as a multi-purpose facility and to make drainage and road improvements at Jefferson Avenue, Freedom Road Bridge and Alger Road Bridge, which were damaged during Hurricane Sally.
Town of Jay ($5,479,939) – to build a Community Disaster Response Facility and various infrastructure to support disaster response and recovery following a storm event.

The Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program

The Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program reduces the risk of future property loss and recurrent flooding by funding the purchase and re-purposing of residential properties in high flood-risk areas. Communities will receive awards through the Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program for Hurricane Sally for the following projects:

City of Panama City ($5,000,000)
Escambia County ($3,170,114)

The Rebuild Florida Workforce Recovery Training Program

Pensacola State College will receive nearly $2.5 million to bolster construction trades in Hurricane Sally-impacted communities. The Rebuild Florida Workforce Recovery Training Program for Hurricane Sally was launched to provide funding for local workforce development boards, educational institutions and technical centers located in the communities most impacted by Hurricane Sally.

Award funds will be used to launch or expand a training program tailored to the specific economic revitalization needs of the community, which may include construction trades like roofing, masonry, carpentry, concrete finishing, plumbing, HVAC, electricity, heavy equipment operations, carpet laying, window installation, plastering, welding and more.

The Rebuild Florida Hometown Revitalization Program

The Rebuild Florida Hometown Revitalization Program is designed to support the recovery of economic activity in commercial areas of communities impacted by Hurricane Sally, facilitating the return and recovery of businesses, jobs, and provision of goods and services to the area. Communities will receive awards through the Rebuild Florida Hometown Revitalization Program for Hurricane Sally for the following projects:

City of Panama City ($992,308) – to facilitate Project ACCESS, a boardwalk on Bayview Ave in the St. Andrews community, which aims to draw new businesses, foster economic growth for existing enterprises, encourage a healthy lifestyle for the low- to moderate-income households, and create enduring positive environmental effects.
City of Pensacola ($10,000,000) – to acquire, prepare and rehabilitate a targeted property at West Cervantes and North Pace Boulevard and complete a project at Baptist Hospital.
Escambia County ($5,000,000) – to improve streetscapes and add solar-powered lighting throughout low- to moderate-income areas by installing 80 new Escambia County Area Transit bus shelters and updating 32 Escambia County Area Transit Bus Shelters.

The Rebuild Florida Workforce Affordable Housing Construction Program

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation was awarded $25 million for the construction of new workforce affordable housing to help address housing shortages worsened by Hurricane Sally. Through this agreement, the Rebuild Florida Workforce Affordable Housing Program will fund the creation of quality, resilient and affordable housing units. Florida Housing will launch a competitive application cycle, allowing housing developers and public housing authorities with experience in the development and management of rental properties to apply for funding. Local governments may partner with these entities to apply for funds.

The Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement Program (HRRP)

The Rebuild Florida HRRP for Hurricane Sally is designed to provide funding for local governments to rebuild, replace or repair homes that were damaged by Hurricane Sally, helping impacted Floridians return to decent, safe and sanitary homes. Communities will receive awards through the Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement Program for Hurricane Sally for the following projects:

City of Pensacola ($5,861,500)
Escambia County ($9,000,000)

The funds are allocated to the state through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program.

FloridaCommerce is the governor-designated state authority responsible for administering all HUD long-term recovery funds awarded to the state. Rebuild Florida is a partnership between FloridaCommerce and HUD. Launched in September 2018, Rebuild Florida uses federal funding for Florida’s long-term recovery efforts from the devastating impacts of natural disasters. For more information, visit RebuildFlorida.gov.

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North Florida News

Attorney General James Uthmeier Secures Guilty Conviction of Child Predator

Published

3 weeks ago

April 2, 2025

FNN NEWS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a guilty conviction for Deandre Devone Williams on four felony counts for sexually abusing a minor. Williams traveled from Illinois to Florida to commit these crimes.

“Thanks to our law enforcement partners and Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Emily Frazier and Johnna Lessard for bringing this sick predator to justice,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Child sexual abuse is heinous, and anyone who harms a child will be held accountable. Our office will continue prioritizing these cases and ensure those who commit such disgusting crimes face the consequences.”

According to the law enforcement investigation, Williams, a resident of Illinois, contacted a 13-year-old victim through social media. Williams convinced the child that the two were in a romantic relationship and traveled from Illinois to meet the child in St. Augustine. The defendant then took the child to Ft. Lauderdale, where Williams spent the weekend with the victim in a hotel room. Williams sexually abused the child, then later dropped the victim off at a train station in Ft. Lauderdale, where the minor was unable to get home.

Williams was found guilty of four felony counts of lewd and lascivious battery, traveling to meet a minor, and interference with the custody of a child. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced in St. Johns County on May 2, 2025, and faces up to 50 years in prison.

North Florida News

Representative Adam Anderson to Present $5 Million to FSU Health at Pediatric Rare Disease Symposium

Published

7 months ago

October 3, 2024

FNN NEWS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – Florida State University’s Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU Health will host the Pediatric Rare Disease Symposium on Monday, October 7, 2024, from 9 AM to 4 PM Eastern, bringing together the nation’s leading experts in pediatric rare disease research. The symposium aims to foster collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to advance treatment and research for pediatric rare diseases.

State Representative Adam Anderson will kick off the event with special opening remarks, where he will present a $5 million funding check to support the Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU Health.

“Florida State University is at the forefront of pediatric rare disease research. This symposium will be the catalyst for a collaborative nationwide effort, ensuring that institutions share the best knowledge and practices to bring new cures and hope to millions of children and their families,” said Rep. Anderson.

Other highlights of the event include:

Keynote address by Dr. Terence R. Flotte, Executive Deputy Chancellor and Provost at UMass Chan Medical School
Presentations from experts representing NIH, Harvard, Stanford, University of Florida, University of Miami, and Nicklaus Children’s Health System
Industry roundtable focusing on the intersection of industry, healthcare, and academia in advancing pediatric rare disease research

What to Bring:

Relevant research materials or presentations
Questions for the panelists and speakers

Note: The symposium is focused exclusively on pediatric rare disease research. For more information or to register, visit med.fsu.edu/iprd/.

FSUHealth, RareDiseaseResearch, PediatricCare, MedicalBreakthroughs, FSUSymposium

North Florida News

Harris Campaign to Launch Historic Mobilization Blitz in Florida Panhandle

Published

9 months ago

July 26, 2024

FNN NEWS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – The Harris for President campaign is set to kick off its largest mobilization effort to date in the Florida Panhandle, capitalizing on the surge of grassroots energy across the state. This massive weekend of action, marking 100 days until the general election, comes just days after Vice President Kamala Harris secured her position as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

Starting tomorrow, the campaign will engage thousands of supporters through over 36 events statewide, including canvass launches, press events, and appearances by notable Democratic leaders such as Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former Florida House Representative and Attorney General candidate Sean Shaw, and Florida House Representative Kevin Chambliss.

Key Points:

Mass Mobilization: More than 36 events will take place across Florida, including the Florida Panhandle.
High-Profile Support: Democratic leaders like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Sean Shaw will participate.
Grassroots Energy: Over 7,000 organic volunteer signups have been recorded.
Campaign Goals: Harris is focusing on strengthening democracy, protecting reproductive freedom, and ensuring economic opportunities for all.
Opposition Stance: The campaign contrasts Harris’s vision with Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, which they claim would threaten rights and hurt the middle class.

The weekend’s events, open to media, include the Harris for President – 100 Days of Action Weekend Black Men’s Roundtable in Hillsborough County on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 3:00 PM EST.