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Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that the state is sending $27 million in Rural Infrastructure Fund grants to 14 small communities across Florida to support long-term economic development and public works projects after Hurricane Isaias hit the Panhandle.
DeSantis also announced an additional $499,500 grant from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund for the Town of Century to renovate a commercial building and upgrade its fire suppression system for an incoming tenant.
The grant distribution comes after FloridaCommerce received 141 applications asking for more than $193 million during the 2026–2027 grant cycle. State officials said eight of the awarded communities are located in the Panhandle, which bore the brunt of the storm.
“As we continue helping communities recover from Hurricane Isaias, we are also making investments to strengthen rural Florida and support economic growth,” DeSantis said during an appearance in Washington County. “Today in Washington County, I announced $27 million in Rural Infrastructure Fund awards for critical projects in 14 small and rural communities across Florida. We’re also awarding $24.3 million to 12 additional rural communities to invest in infrastructure and economic opportunity. Florida has made tremendous progress recovering from this storm. We are committed to supporting the families, businesses, and communities that have been affected so that they can rebuild in the short term and thrive in the long term.”
40 Cut and Toss teams cleared and opened I-10 and U.S. 98 by 6 a.m. (FDOT)
Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said the program is designed to deliver targeted aid to less-populated counties.
“Since taking office, Governor DeSantis has prioritized getting Florida’s rural communities the resources and support they need to thrive,” Kelly said. “Through the Rural Infrastructure Fund, Florida has continued to make strategic investments into the critical infrastructure and economic prosperity of Florida’s rural communities—promoting job growth, spurring investment and enhancing the quality of life for rural Floridians.”
In the Panhandle, Calhoun County will receive two awards totaling nearly $3.5 million. The county was granted $2,497,933 to buy and renovate a building next to the new Calhoun Liberty Hospital to house a primary care clinic, specialty care center, and county EMS operations, which is expected to create about 33 jobs. Another $1 million will cover planning, design, and initial construction for a new commercial hangar at the Calhoun County Airport.
Jackson County secured two grants: $1,985,500 to build an access road and run water, sewer, power, and broadband lines into the 300-acre Endeavor Industrial Park, and $1,970,115 to construct a 13-acre RV park and campground at the Blue Springs Recreational Area in Marianna.
Washington County will use $300,000 to study the viability of a proposed regional sports and entertainment complex, while receiving $1,436,470.80 to finish roadway improvements on the Holmes Valley Gateway Project. The Florida Department of Transportation is providing another $2.05 million for that roadwork.
Other Panhandle projects include $911,980 for downtown parking lots and walkways in Chipley; $3.5 million for Walton County to upgrade access roads and rail crossings at the Northwest Florida Commerce Park; and two awards for the Town of Jay—$100,000 for a wastewater plant study and $500,000 to prep an industrial lot with utility connections.
Across the rest of the state, the grants will support a mix of coastal, utility, and retail developments:
Chiefland: $3,500,000 to build road, water, and sewer lines for a 55,000-square-foot grocery development and retail outparcels.
Gulf County: $3,000,000 to design and construct roughly seven miles of wastewater lines along State Road 71.
Jefferson County: $2,500,000 to extend water and sewer service, pave an access road, and improve stormwater drainage at the county industrial park.
Franklin County: $1,312,500 to install breakwaters and stabilize the shoreline around the St. George Island Boat Ramp.
Moore Haven: $1,150,501.20 to build a 500-foot seawall and install new boat docks at the city marina.
Indiantown: $750,000 to replace an aging two-inch galvanized steel water pipe along Southwest Osceola Street.
Tavares: $300,000 to run a stormwater drainage and flood study along the St. Clair Abrams Avenue corridor.
Putnam County: $285,000 for modernization and planning studies at the Port Putnam terminal and annex.
According to FloridaCommerce, the Rural Infrastructure Fund specifically assists Rural Areas of Opportunity, rural counties, and small municipalities seeking to attract commercial investment and upgrade basic services.
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