Commerce describes $925M CDBG-DR allocation and housing recovery timeline under Office of Long-Term Resiliency

Jason Domer, deputy secretary of community development at the Florida Department of Commerce, told the Senate Committee on Community Affairs that the department’s Office of Long-Term Resiliency (OLTR) administers CDBG-DR (Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery) funds and is preparing an action plan for a newly announced allocation covering multiple 2023–24 disasters.

Domer said Florida Commerce currently administers about $3.4 billion in CDBG-DR funds and expects that total to rise above $4 billion after the most recent allocation. He described the recent HUD announcement (made Jan. 7, with the formal Federal Register on Jan. 16) as covering multiple eligible events—Hurricane Idalia, Debbie, Helene, Milton, the Broward flooding (which received a direct allocation to Broward and Fort Lauderdale), and North Florida tornadoes.

Nut graf: The Office of Long-Term Resiliency runs direct housing programs and subrecipient infrastructure grants under CDBG-DR. Domer said the agency’s action plan is due to HUD on April 21 and that the release of funds is expected in October; HUD grants carry a six-year period of performance.

Housing programs and timelines

Domer outlined several active and closed housing programs. The Hurricane Irma housing program (covering 47 eligible counties) has completed 3,822 homes with 97 remaining, he said. The Hurricane Michael housing program served 12 counties, completed 979 projects and is closed. The Hurricane Ian program is active: Domer reported 51 completed homes, more than 3,800 applications and an open application window through March 31; the program covers 20 eligible counties (with four entitlement communities—Volusia, Orange, Sarasota and Lee—receiving direct allocations from HUD).

Domer said the department builds or repairs housing to local building codes and procures contractors and vendors directly—CDBG-DR funds are reimbursed to providers rather than given to homeowners. He described one major infrastructure project in the Hurricane Michael portfolio, the Calhoun-Liberty Hospital rehabilitation, with a total project cost of $45 million and roughly $18.7 million funded from CDBG-DR (other funds, including FEMA, also contributed). The project is expected to reopen in June of the year stated in the presentation.

Subrecipient grants, hazard mitigation match and workforce programs

On the subrecipient side, Commerce runs infrastructure grants to local governments and the Hazard Mitigation Grant-match program (state match for DEM 75% HMGP projects). Domer said Commerce expects agreements with dozens of counties and anticipates more than 400 active agreements statewide as programs roll out. He also described workforce recovery programs that train residents in construction trades, welding, plumbing and CDL driving to support recovery and future resilience projects.

Funding process and compliance

Domer emphasized HUD compliance requirements: funds must meet a HUD national objective (commonly low- to moderate-income benefit or urgent need), avoid duplication of benefits, and each expenditure must have a storm tieback to eligible disasters. The federal register and HUD timelines determine when OLTR can obligate funds.

Questions from the committee

Senator Streep asked whether the Broward allocation listed on Commerce’s slide was part of the state’s $925 million; Domer clarified that the state’s allocation (approximately $925 million) is separate and that Broward’s direct allocation (about $29.2 million on the slide) is administered locally by Broward and Fort Lauderdale under HUD guidance. Senators also asked about turnaround times for homeowners; Domer said repair timelines vary by project type (repairs are faster; replacement or new construction takes longer) and reiterated that mobile homes can be eligible but that covenant and park rules sometimes limit where reconstruction can occur.

Ending: Domer said Commerce will complete outreach to eligible counties as it prepares the action plan to HUD and invited senators to contact his office for more information.