Florida League of Cities names St. Augustine city leaders ‘Home Rule Heroes’

St. Augustine’s City Manager John Regan and Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline have been recognized for their efforts to maintain local control on a variety of issues. The Florida League of Cities recognized both officials with a 2021 Home Rule Hero Award for their work during the 2021 Legislative Session, according to a city news release. “Sikes-Kline and Regan worked tirelessly…

Governor DeSantis Announces More Than $30 Million to Improve Infrastructure, Community Redevelopment and Job Creation in Small and Rural Florida Communities

PERRY, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI) have awarded several grants totaling more than $30 million to improve infrastructure, community redevelopment and job creation in small and rural Florida communities. $29 million was awarded through the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant…

First Shop Opens in New Downtown Winter Garden Plant Street Exchange Building

Downtown Winter Garden’s newest building, Plant Street Exchange, is nearly complete and its first occupant, Apricot Lane Boutique, has opened. More retail shops and restaurants, as well as an adjacent City park, will open this summer. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Tanja Gerhartz June 25, 2021 407-947-1720  tgerhartz@cwgdn.com  First Shop Opens in New Downtown Plant Street…

Federal Programs for Affordable Housing Investment – Webinar (May 11, 2021)

Establishing partnerships and assembling a diverse capital stack are key components when financing housing developments, yet financing and technical assistance from the federal government is often overlooked. HUD manages several key finance programs that are integral to affordable housing development in urban areas, and the USDA does the same for rural areas across the country.…

DEO Accepting Applications for Citizen Advisory Committee for Mitigation

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Rebuild Florida Mitigation Program is now accepting applications and nominations for its Citizen Advisory Committee for Mitigation. Required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Committee will serve as a liaison between the communities and citizens located in state and HUD-designated Most Impacted and…

Public Workshops and Webinar to Access Nearly $47 Million in Mitigation Funding for Hurricane Michael Impacted Communities

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced that communities impacted by Hurricane Michael will have the opportunity to attend upcoming public workshops and a webinar to provide input on the state’s efforts to access $46.9 million in federal mitigation funding. To access this long-term mitigation funding, the Department will work with state agencies…