Lee Board of County Commissioners Receives HUD Allocation for Hurricane Ian Long-Term Recovery Needs

Lee Board of County Commissioners learned the Department of Housing and Urban Development allocated $1.1 billion in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funding directly to Lee County to assist with its long-term recovery following Hurricane Ian. These disaster recovery funds can be used for a variety of activities including housing redevelopment, infrastructure repair, economic revitalization and long-term planning. Prior to the release of CDBG-DR funds, the county is required to develop a CDBG-DR Action Plan to describe the uses, management and oversight of these funds, and must be approved by HUD. In support of this effort, the county’s regional Recovery Task Force, led by Commissioner Kevin Ruane, will continue engaging with each of the hardest-hit communities across the county to hear directly from community leaders and members of the public about their remaining needs. In addition to the required approval of the county’s CDBG-DR Action Plan, HUD must issue guidance – via Federal Register notice – detailing rules and regulations for administering these funds. In total, the county’s CDBG-DR Action Plan development and associated approval along with the guidance issuance by HUD could take several months, county officials said.