$82M Hurricane Recovery for Florida

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that Florida will receive almost $83 million in hurricane relief money from the federal government. The Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will work with partner agencies to recommend a plan for distribution. HUD will allocate $11.5 billion in total to the five Gulf Coast states impacted by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma through HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Hard-hit Louisiana will receive $6.2 billion, followed by $5.5 billion for Mississippi, $74.5 for Texas and $74.4 for Alabama. Last year, Florida received $100.9 million in HUD disaster relief grants -- more than two-thirds of all money awarded nationally -- to rebuild from the 2004 hurricane season. Funds were distributed to the fifteen hardest-hit counties to aid ongoing recovery efforts. To date, 160 recovery projects in Florida are underway, including a new special needs shelter, repaired and improved wastewater facilities, economic development projects, new affordable housing and mitigation initiatives.

Source: FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS