Manatee drafts plans to spend $252M on hurricane relief. Take a look

Manatee County officials are close to deciding how they will use over $250 million in federal grant funds for local hurricane recovery efforts.

Manatee County is one of several Florida communities hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton to receive a piece of $12 billion in disaster recovery grants that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded earlier this year. In addition to recovery efforts, the grants are meant to fund infrastructure improvements that help communities prepare for future storms.

There likely isn’t enough money to go around, however. The county has received nearly $1 billion in funding requests, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.

In a recently published draft plan, county staff outline how the money could be split, including housing relief programs for residents and major infrastructure upgrades to address flooding, wastewater spills and other problems.

The plan, called “Lasting Manatee,” also details how grant money will be allotted to each of the county’s six other municipalities — Bradenton, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key.

Commissioners voted 6-0 to approve the plan during Tuesday’s public board meeting, with Commissioner Tal Siddique absent.

Here’s a look at what it includes.

Manatee County shares plan for HUD grant distribution

HUD awarded Manatee County $252,711,000 in disaster recovery funds. The county’s draft plan distributes those funds among the following categories:

• $125 million for an Infrastructure Recovery and Resiliency Program to repair, replace or improve existing infrastructure.

• $75.6 million for a Home Recovery Program that will fund “rehabilitation, reconstruction, replacement and/or elevation” of residents’ homes.
• $20 million for a Rental Recovery Program that will fund “rehabilitation, reconstruction, and/or elevation of rental units.”
• $12 million for a Buyout and Safe Housing Program that will allow the county to purchase and demolish homes in areas that are flood-prone or have experienced repeated storm damage.
• $5 million for an Infrastructure Match Program that will allow to county to cover cost-sharing requirements for federal grants.
• The plan also calls for $12.6 million in administrative costs (the maximum amount allowed by HUD) and $2.5 million for planning costs (about 7% of the amount HUD allows to be spent on planning).

How much will cities receive?

At a recent board meeting, commissioners approved a plan to distribute grant funds to municipalities based on population size:

• Unincorporated Manatee: 82%
• City of Bradenton: 13%
• City of Palmetto: 3%
• Holmes Beach: 0.7%
• Longboat Key: 0.6%
• Anna Maria: 0.2%
• Bradenton Beach: 0.2%

According to the draft plan, local governments would submit specific infrastructure projects to Manatee County for review before those funds are doled out. Residents county-wide will be eligible for the housing and rental recovery programs, the plan says.

What happens next?

The draft plan commissioners approved Tuesday will soon be published to the county’s website for a 30-day public comment period, staff said.

The county will also hold two in-person public hearings, with dates to be announced. After public comments are incorporated into the plan, it will be submitted to HUD for final approval by June 30, according to county officials.

County staff expect the funding agreement to be finalized by late fall, and the application period for resident relief programs should open by January, county grant manager Michele Davis said at Tuesday’s board meeting.

Once finalized, the funding agreement lasts for six years.

Visit MyManatee.org for updates.

This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM.