Manatee County Receives $252M in Federal Disaster Relief Funding

In a significant boost to local disaster recovery efforts, Manatee County has been allocated $252.7 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) program. The funding is designated to aid in rebuilding communities impacted by Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.

To effectively manage the grant, the county has launched “Lasting Manatee,” a program aimed at assessing unmet needs, engaging the community for project recommendations, and drafting an Action Plan for the use of the funds. The plan will undergo review and require approval from both the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners and HUD before funds are distributed.

As Lasting Manatee moves through its early planning stages, local residents and organizations will have opportunities to participate in shaping recovery efforts. Updates and involvement opportunities will be made available at mymanatee.org/cdbgdr.