HUD to provide $328 million to Volusia County for recovery and housing

Representatives from HUD will contact the county with additional information about the program, and the county will formulate a plan for how the funds will be utilized.

By Clayton Jackson, Volusia County Community Information
| 5:00 p.m. March 17, 2023

Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock/Leigh Prather

Ormond Beach Observer

Volusia County Government will receive $328,910,000 in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

CDBG-DR funds are to be used for disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure, housing, economic revitalization and mitigation in the most impacted and distressed areas after a presidentially declared disaster.

"Everyone with an interest in our recovery efforts and addressing affordable housing should be elated with this news," County Manager George Recktenwald said. "HUD's most generous award will significantly advance current objectives and allow us to explore other avenues of increasing affordable housing in Volusia County for renters and homeowners alike."

Representatives from HUD will contact the county with additional information about the program, and the county will formulate a plan for how the funds will be utilized.

The planning process will include meetings with municipalities, nonprofits and residents to assess the community's needs for long-term improvement and investment.

Once the plan has been drafted, there will be a public comment period and meeting for residents to provide feedback and recommendations. The proposed plan will be taken before the Volusia County Council and, upon their approval, then submitted to HUD for execution.

In addition to Volusia County, other counties in Florida — such as Lee, Orange and Sarasota — also received a direct CDBG-DR allocation from HUD.