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Manatee officials outline $253 million initial CDBG‑DR allocation; Palmetto submitted $275 million in requests
Summary
Manatee County grants staff briefed Palmetto and county leaders on Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) submissions, eligibility timing and a new HUD deadline of June 30. Officials urged shovel‑ready projects for local consideration.
Michelle Davis, Manatee County’s grants administration manager, told commissioners and City of Palmetto officials on March 3 that the county and local partners have submitted a large slate of projects for federal disaster recovery funds following recent storms.
Davis said, “we all received the $253,000,000 grant from HUD,” and noted that the total pool of related CDBG‑DR submissions county‑wide had grown to about $1.06 billion as of the prior Friday. She said Palmetto alone had submitted about $275,000,000 in project requests and that many proposals target low‑ and moderate‑income (LMI) areas.
Why it matters: The grant money is designated for disaster recovery work and carries tight spending windows and federal rules that shape which projects can be funded. County staff said HUD has extended internal deadlines and is revising guidance, which affects what projects can be packaged and submitted.
County staff gave these program specifics and timing details during the briefing: HUD’s initial award to Manatee County was described as roughly $253 million, and Davis said the larger regional/submission total discussed at the meeting had increased to about $1.06 billion. For submissions tied to the Palmetto area, staff reported roughly $275 million in requests, composed of 18 government submissions, 20 nonprofit proposals, one business proposal and two faith‑based proposals. Much of the proposed spending was reported as targeted to LMI areas.
Davis said HUD informed staff the county would have extra time to complete its public‑notice and submission requirements: “we now have until June 30,” she said, extending earlier March/April deadlines. She also said the agency was revising its “universal notice” guidance and may tighten or clarify eligibility rules before mid‑August awards are announced.
Officials emphasized that “shovel‑ready” projects are most competitive because recipients have six years after award to obligate and spend funds and HUD typically requires environmental reviews before construction. Davis said previously completed environmental reviews may be reusable under new guidance, which could speed approval for some projects.
County and Palmetto leaders asked staff to continue outreach and one‑on‑one briefings. Davis said staff will meet individually with each county commissioner on March 17 to discuss possible allocations, and she asked Palmetto and other local applicants to submit shovel‑ready projects for consideration.
Ending: Commissioners and Palmetto officials said they would keep coordinating with county staff and with HUD guidance as it becomes final, and urged local applicants to prepare sufficient documentation so projects can move quickly if selected.
