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Manatee County accepts vulnerability assessment, becomes eligible for state resilience grants
Summary
Manatee County accepted a state‑standard vulnerability assessment on Aug. 5, 2025, identifying 13 focus areas and roughly 461 high‑risk assets and enabling eligibility for Resilient Florida implementation funding; staff will begin an adaptation plan to prioritize projects.
Manatee County commissioners voted Aug. 5 to accept a county vulnerability assessment prepared under the Resilient Florida grant program, a step county staff said will make the county eligible for implementation funding and help prioritize infrastructure projects to address flooding and sea‑level rise.
Sherry Swanson, manager of the county’s Ecological and Marine Resources Division, and consultants presented an analysis using the state’s July 2024 data standards that modeled high‑tide ("sunny day"), sea‑level rise, extreme rainfall and storm‑surge scenarios through 2050 and 2080. Swanson said the county inventoried more than 28,000 assets, evaluated approximately 2,500 assets that meet the state definition of critical or regionally significant, and identified roughly 461 assets with high flood‑risk scores. The work identified 13 focus areas capturing the highest‑risk clusters of infrastructure.
"This vulnerability assessment helps us identify and focus on flood‑prone infrastructure, guiding future adaptation projects, and opening the door to future grant funding opportunities," Swanson said. She told the board the state has awarded about $1.7 million to Manatee County to date for flood‑resilience work and that the county has received a $125,000 planning grant to kick off the adaptation plan.
Commissioners asked about GIS layers, lift‑station relocations, potential costs and funding strategies. Staff said the adaptation plan will include department‑level prioritization and that many implementation grants require a 50% local match; staff recommended exploring alternative funding sources in addition to state grants.
Board action
Commissioner Ron moved to accept the vulnerability assessment report and direct staff to proceed with adaptation planning. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sadiq and the board approved the acceptance (vote announced as "approved 7 2 0"). The acceptance authorizes staff to proceed to the adaptation‑plan phase and pursue grant opportunities tied to the Resilient Florida program.
What comes next
County staff will begin the adaptation plan, meet with departments to refine priority projects (including lift stations, roads and seawall work) and pursue state planning and implementation funding; implementation grants will generally require a 50% local match.
Notes and caveats
- The assessment used state‑recommended sea‑level scenarios (intermediate low and intermediate) and multiple flood scenarios (including 100‑ and 500‑year rainfall and storm surge). - Staff reported roughly 461 high‑risk assets and 13 focus areas; the adaptation plan will refine project lists and preliminary cost estimates.
