In April 2018, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that the State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) would receive funding to support long-term mitigation efforts following declared disasters in 2016 and 2017 through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) program. Awards were distributed on a competitive basis targeting HUD-designated Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) Areas, primarily addressing the Benefits to Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) National Objective. Additional information may be found in the Federal Register, Vol. 84, No. 169.
On April 16, 2021, the DEO selected the City of Lakeland (City) to receive CDBG-MIT grant funds based on the Lake Bonnet Drainage Basin Flood Hazard and Debris Mitigation application submitted for the Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program. The City entered into an agreement with Florida DEO (Agreement # MT047) on October 27, 2022, to administer these mitigation disaster recovery funds.
The project will consist of wetland restoration, lake bottom sediment dredging, and the development of flood mitigation infrastructure to reduce flood risk for the May Manor Mobile Home Park and surrounding areas and will consist of three (3) Phases: Phase 1 - Feasibility Study; Phase 2 – Design, Permitting, Communication and Coordination with property owners for potential property acquisition and/or easements and the public at large, as well as the development of a project implementation plan; and, Phase 3 – Construction with an expectation of a six-year start-to-completion schedule.
The Feasibility Study will evaluate mitigation project activities for eligibility with the HUD CDBG-MIT requirements, coordinate with local, state, and federal permitting agencies, establish the environmental review process, coordinate with private property owners for potential property acquisition and/or easements and the public at large, as well as the development of a project implementation plan.
Upon completion of the Feasibility Study and in accordance with its findings, the City, with the assistance of the awarded Consultant Firm, will submit a revised scope of work, project schedule, and detailed project budget reflective of the study results for DEO’s review and close-out of the feasibility study prior to commencing Phase 2 and Phase 3.