Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Eda Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hardee County EDA awards $1.9 million to water, parks and downtown projects; Riverview loop not funded
Summary
The board ranked seven grant requests, then unanimously approved awards that fully fund two top-ranked applications and allocate funds to four other projects while declining the Riverview Heights loop.
The Hardee County Economic Development Authority ranked seven infrastructure and redevelopment grant requests, then voted unanimously to allocate roughly $1.9 million to six projects on the authority's list, leaving one request — the Riverview Heights water main loop — unfunded.
At a June 2025 meeting, board members considered requests from municipalities and the county for water, sewer, parks and facade/rehab work. Presenters described engineering and phasing for each project and explained how the requested funds would be used. After discussion and a ranked ballot, the board approved funding on a package motion that listed each award and amount.
Votes at a glance (motion passed unanimously): - Zolfo Springs water treatment plant expansion: $300,000 approved. - Hardee County Huachula Hills (Phase 9) regional water/wastewater engineering: $250,000 approved. - City of Wauchula Herb Bridge Road water main loop (presented as "Herb/Hurd Bridge" in materials): $1,000,000 approved toward a larger $1.452 million construction request. - City of Zolfo Springs water treatment (application listed as the town's expansion): (Note: the $300,000 award above funds this request.) - City of Bowling Green train depot improvements: $125,000 approved (design/rehab of historic depot restrooms and ADA elements). - Hardee County parks Wi-Fi: $30,000 approved to cover a shortfall in the county's contract for park wireless service. - Hardee County gateway signage: $80,000 approved toward design/permitting and initial construction of county entry signs. - City of Wauchula Riverview Heights water main loop: not funded in this cycle; board asked staff to provide a narrower cost estimate for just the looping portion for future consideration.
The final motion, made by Commissioner Chancy and seconded by Commissioner Wells, listed the amounts above and passed by voice vote with no recorded dissents. Board members had discussed priorities for development-oriented infrastructure (pressure/looping for fire flow, sewer lift stations, and water main replacements) and weighed those against lower-cost downtown and tourism-oriented projects such as the depot rehabilitation, park Wi-Fi and gateway signs.
Earlier in the meeting the board approved a separate item: a modification (No. 4) to a grant agreement with the Hardee County School District's recreation complex program to extend the grant until project completion. That motion passed unanimously; the presenter, Meredith Durastani, said the district had approximately $45,000 remaining in award funds and planned to use carried-over dollars for pool lighting and interior resurfacing later this year.
Board staff and presenters noted funding constraints: the EDA had about $1.9 million available for disbursement in this cycle, and several presenters acknowledged their projects would require additional state or loan financing to complete construction if full EDA funding was not available. Board members asked for follow-ups, including a reduced-scope estimate for the Riverview loop and confirmation of specific pipe sizes and lengths for the Herb Bridge project.
The board directed staff to prepare grant agreements reflecting the awards; staff said agreements would be brought back for execution, with awards dated to begin Oct. 1 of the new fiscal year.
