- July 30, 2026
The City of Bunnell received a significant boost toward one of its largest infrastructure projects Wednesday as Congressman Randy Fine presented city officials with a ceremonial check for $5.16 million in federal funding for the city's ongoing Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation and Expansion Project.
The funding, secured through congressional appropriations, will help modernize the city's aging wastewater treatment facility while doubling its treatment capacity from 0.600 million gallons per day to 1.200 million gallons per day, allowing Bunnell to accommodate future residential, commercial and industrial growth.
City Manager Dr. Alvin Jackson Jr. said the visit also provided an opportunity to discuss Bunnell's long-term infrastructure priorities with the congressman.
"His district office is in our building," Jackson said. "He was visiting around his district, and we had gotten contacted the day before that he would basically do a check delivery and notify us of the $5.1 million that we've gotten toward our wastewater project. It was great."
According to Jackson, city leaders and Fine discussed not only the wastewater expansion but also potential future federal funding opportunities.
"We talked about the status of the project," Jackson said. "We talked about maybe some possible additional funding needs that we may have, one being the restoration of our historic Coquina Hall City Hall. It was a very good time to receive the appropriations and talk about our future needs."
According to the city, the expansion will transform the existing 1972-era wastewater treatment plant into an advanced treatment facility, creating a more reliable and resilient system capable of serving both current residents and future development while improving the quality of treated water discharged into the environment.
Vice Mayor John Rogers called the project an investment in Bunnell's future.
"This project represents a tremendous investment in Bunnell's future," Rogers said in a statement. "Modernizing our wastewater treatment plant will strengthen our infrastructure, improve environmental stewardship, and ensure our utility system is prepared to serve residents and businesses for decades to come."
Jackson said the project is about much more than replacing aging infrastructure. He described wastewater capacity as one of the key factors determining how much economic growth a city can support.
"It's very important," Jackson said. "Wastewater expansion really is tied to our ability to grow economically, attract additional businesses into our community and modernize our wastewater facilities."
He said expanding utility capacity also supports one of the city's long-term financial goals: increasing the commercial and industrial tax base.
"As we look at commercial and industrial development, that really lessens the tax burden on the residential portion of the community," Jackson said.
In addition to the wastewater project, city officials discussed several other infrastructure priorities that could qualify for future federal assistance, including water and wastewater improvements, resiliency initiatives and restoration of Historic Coquina Hall. According to the city, those projects are intended to improve public health, strengthen community resilience and support continued economic development.
Representing the city during Fine's visit were Vice Mayor John Rogers, Jackson, Infrastructure Director Dustin Vost and Infrastructure Project Manager Mary Anne Atwood.
In a statement following the visit, the city thanked Fine for supporting infrastructure investments that officials say will help Bunnell continue providing reliable public services while preparing for future growth.
