Volusia County outlines $133.5 million CDBG-DR 'Transform 386' plan, reserves $20 million for mitigation

A Volusia County staff member said the county has been allocated $133,500,000 in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support long‑term recovery from Hurricane Milton. The presenter said the county will earmark roughly $20,000,000 specifically for mitigation projects and that HUD requires at least 15% of the award be used for mitigation and that at least 70% of funds must benefit low‑ and moderate‑income households (those at or below 80% of area median income).

The presentation explained why the funds matter: they are targeted to unmet needs left after other assistance and are intended to rebuild housing and infrastructure, revitalize impacted commercial areas and enhance resilience against future storms. A Volusia County staff member noted the award is similar in purpose to CDBG‑DR assistance following Hurricane Ian, when the county received $328,000,000 and previously allocated over $60,000,000 toward flood and stormwater projects.

Officials described procedural and budget limits required by HUD: no more than 5% of the grant may be used for administrative costs, planning costs may be up to 15%, and the county must close out projects and expend funds within six years of the funding agreement. The presenter said mitigation projects are not required to show a direct connection to Hurricane Milton, while other project categories—housing, infrastructure and economic revitalization—must be directly tied to damage from the storm.

Eligibility and national objectives were outlined. Projects must address unmet needs, avoid duplication of benefits and meet at least one HUD national objective: benefit low‑ and moderate‑income persons, address urgent community needs that pose immediate threats to health or welfare, or prevent/eliminate slum or blight. The presenter advised applicants to keep detailed records of prior assistance and repairs to aid the county’s duplication‑of‑benefits review.

The county plans a community engagement schedule: staff will analyze input from engagement sessions during February to develop a draft action plan; the draft will be posted for public review in February–March with a 30‑day comment period and at least one public hearing; the Volusia County Council will review the plan in April; and HUD approval is expected by summer or fall, after which funds would be released. The presenter said the county has created an online unmet‑needs survey and will provide presentations to community groups; the survey is available at transform386.org and staff can be reached at transform386@volusia.org or 386‑943‑7029.

The presentation listed examples of eligible activities: rehabilitation, repair or construction of single‑family and multifamily affordable housing, potential buyouts for residents in high‑flood‑risk areas, repairs and improvements to public infrastructure (roads, bridges, stormwater systems), job training and commercial district revitalization, and mitigation investments to improve resilience and facility infrastructure. The presenter said the county is coordinating with local jurisdictions to prioritize mitigation needs and calculate unmet needs by comparing total recovery requirements against resources already available.

No formal action or vote was recorded during the presentation; staff described next procedural steps and timelines for public review, county council consideration and submission to HUD.