Board ratifies $9.32M grant application for Bostock Road sewer project; local match required

The Hardee County Board of County Commissioners voted 4‑0 to ratify a Community Project Funding application for the Bostock Road utility improvements project and to authorize pursuit of matching funds. Capital projects manager Bobby King described the project as a regional triplex lift station and roughly two miles of sanitary sewer to connect future development and reduce septic use.

King said "the total construction project estimate of $9,000,000" and that "the total application submitted, for this grant application is 9,320,000." He told the board the request includes roughly a 20% local match—staff estimated the required match at about $1.86 million and later the motion authorized matching funds not to exceed $1,864,000. King said the lift station is expected to affect approximately 200 service connections and that the project would help about 3,000 residents by improving groundwater and surface water quality in the Peace River Basin.

King said staff had discussed the application with Congressman Scott Franklin's office and would also pursue Florida Commerce funding as a match. Simpra, a staff member working on the project, described a two‑step strategy for funding and permitting: apply first for engineering/design funding under Florida Commerce's small cities program to create a shovel‑ready project, then pursue construction funding. "So once we have a shovel ready project, we can pursue whatever funding we have in the future," Simpra said.

Because both funding sources are contingent on awards, staff and several commissioners agreed the board's authorization should reflect that both grants must be awarded before the county obligates local funds. Committee member (speaker 6) moved a motion that included that contingency language; the motion passed 4‑0.