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UPDATE 08/09/2019-
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Announces Extension of Application Deadline for $75 Million Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced the extension of the deadline for local governments in communities impacted by Hurricane Irma to apply for grant funding through the $75 million Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program. The original application deadline of August 15, 2019, has been extended to October 1, 2019. Grant funding can be used by local governments to purchase homes damaged by Hurricane Irma from willing homeowners in high risk flood areas or to match funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).
“Governor DeSantis remains committed to the recovery of all communities impacted by Hurricane Irma,” said Ken Lawson, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “By extending the deadline for local governments to apply for Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program grant funding, DEO is giving communities impacted by Hurricane Irma every opportunity to apply for funding to reduce the impacts of future storms.”
The Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program is designed to help reduce the impact of future disasters in high risk flood areas. Local governments can apply for funding to acquire secured contiguous lots or single properties. Funding can also be used as leverage to match funding for projects that are also eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency HMGP.
To complete an application by the extended October 1 deadline, or for more information about the program, visit Floridajobs.org. Rebuild Florida, a partnership of DEO and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, launched in September 2018 to use federal funding for Florida’s long-term disaster recovery efforts. For more information, visit RebuildFlorida.gov
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The State of Florida has allocated $75 Million to the most impacted and distressed areas of the state through the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Voluntary Home Buyout Program. The goal of the program is to reduce the risk of flooding through the purchase of damaged or destroyed properties impacted by Hurricane Irma. Properties located in the flood plains will receive priority review.
The City is applying for this Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. The grant application is due August 15, 2019. Should the City receive grant funds, acquisition efforts will be focused in the Quinn/Downs Street areas of Bonita Springs. The project boundaries are Interstate 75 on the east, Bonita Beach Road on the south, Lime Street on the west and the Imperial River on the north. City staff will be canvasing this neighborhood on Monday, July 29; Tuesday, July 30; and Wednesday, July 31 explaining the program.
If you are interested in this program and your property falls within the project boundaries noted above, the City would like to meet with you to discuss the purchase of your property. The City is holding two neighborhood meetings outlining the program specifics. The neighborhood meetings will be held at City Hall, 9101 Bonita Beach Road on:
Thursday, August 1 – 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Tuesday, August 6 – 6:30pm to 8:00pm
The City of Bonita Springs is also seeking citizen participation, public comment, and input for the Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program at the Public Hearing scheduled for August 7, 2019 at 5:30 P.M.
Please understand that there is no guarantee that funds will be available in the future to buy your property. This is a voluntary program intended to provide you a Fair Market Value for your property. The power of eminent domain will not be used to acquire property.
Any questions, comments or inquiries regarding the programmatic requirements of the funding source can be addressed to Elly Soto McKuen, Senior Project Manager at (239) 949-6246 or through email at
[email protected].
