PUBLIC NOTICE: Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Planning Support Program
LAKELAND, FL (July 17, 2020) | The City of Lakeland anticipates applying for Rebuild Florida General Planning Support (GSP) funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address mitigation needs to ensure that the state of Florida is more resilient to future natural disasters. This program is being administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) through the Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) Program. A total of $20,000,000 in funding has been allocated by DEO for the General Planning Support Program.
The General Planning Support Program is designed to provide funding opportunities to units of general local government (UGLG), educational institutions, state agencies, and non-profits for the purpose of developing and updating state, regional and local plans including, but not limited to:
- Regional mitigation plans;
- Modernization and resiliency planning;
- Comprehensive, capital improvement, and community development plans;
- Floodplain and wetland management plans;
- Land use and urban environment plans;
- Historic preservation plans;
- Small area, housing and neighborhood plans;
- Integration of mitigation plans with other planning initiatives; and
- An inventory development of properties with known or suspected environmental contamination.
In addition to mitigation plans, the GPS program allows for a range of mitigation activities, including:
- Assessment of Fair Housing;
- Upgrading mapping, data and other capabilities to better understand evolving disaster risks;
- Planning and public service activities necessary to reduce flood insurance premiums in the National Flood Insurance Program’s voluntary Community Rating System incentive program;
- Education and outreach campaigns designed to alert communities and prospective beneficiaries to opportunities to further mitigate identified risks through insurance, best practices and other strategies;
- Development and implementation of modern and resilient building codes to mitigate against current and future hazards;
The City of Lakeland has been designated as eligible to apply for this funding. In accordance with guidance supplied by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and HUD relevant to the impacts of COVID-19, the public input requirements for this program include the option to post information about proposed funding projects on a public website with the provision of a 14-day public comment period. A copy of this post and any public comments received will be provided to the DEO as part of the funding application submitted. Applications must exceed $20,000 and are not to be above $10 million with a deadline of July 30, 2020.
The City of Lakeland anticipates applying for a total of one million, one hundred thousand dollars ($1,100,000.00) in funding through the CDBG-MIT General Planning Support Program as detailed:
Project 1: $350,000.00 for the City of Lakeland – City Wide Mitigation and Resiliency Planning, which will include community events, plan writing, mapping, the printing of documents, plan updates, and administration of the grant. As a part of the planning process, the City will engage in a robust stakeholder engagement campaign with the community, continually engaging and incorporating feedback into the planning.
Project 2: $750,000.00, for the City of Lakeland Se7en Wetlands - Design and planning to replace a wastewater discharge structure and rehabilitate upstream and downstream conveyances to restore function to pre-Hurricane Irma levels while including additional protections for future storm events.
To comment on the Rebuild Florida General Planning Support, please contact Audrey J. Cain, Emergency Manager, City of Lakeland at Audrey.Cain@LakelandGov.net.
Comments from the public must be received no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, July 31, 2020. All comments will be considered, and proposed changes will be submitted to DEO. Additional information relating to the proposed projects and applications is available for review by request.
Activities that are typically eligible for funding under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, as well as specific additional activities as outlined in the State of Florida CDBG-MIT Action Plan for the program, are eligible projects if no other funding is available to meet the need. Currently, the City of Lakeland does not have funds allocated for the proposed projects. Applications are due in DEO no later than July 31, 2020.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons with disabilities needing special accommodation to participate in this proceeding, or those requiring language assistance should contact the City of Lakeland ADA Specialist, Jenny Sykes, no later than 48 hours prior to the proceeding, at 863.834.8444, Email: Jenny.sykes@lakelandgov.net. If hearing impaired, please contact the TDD numbers: Local – 863.834.8333 or 800.955.8771 (TDD-Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or the Florida Relay Service Number 800.955.8770 (VOICE), for assistance.
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About Lakeland
The City of Lakeland was incorporated in January 1885 and has grown to become one of the largest inland communities in Florida. With a current population of over 100,000, Lakeland continues to grow. It has been designated a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area by the US Census Bureau for over 30 years. With tourist attractions and gulf beaches only an hour away, Lakeland continues to capitalize on its ideal central Florida location along the I-4 corridor. The City owns and operates Lakeland Electric, the third-largest publicly owned utility in Florida and it was one of the first to offer power in the Sunshine State over 110 years ago.
For additional information about the City of Lakeland, please explore LakelandGov.net.
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