Anyone who requires a reasonable accommodation, such as an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, to participate in the County’s programs, services, or activities should contact Carmine DeMilio, ADA Compliance Coordinator, at (941) 748-4501, ext. 6016 or [email protected], at least 3 business days prior to any applicable scheduled meeting. If you are deaf/hard of hearing and require the services of an interpreter, please contact the Florida Relay Service at 711.

Manatee County (the County) has completed a CDBG-DR Action Plan to identify the impacts, long-term needs, and proposed uses for $252,711,000 in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a result of the 2024 hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declaration numbers for these presidentially declared disasters are DR-4806-FL (Debby), DR-4828-FL(Helene), and DR-4834-FL (Milton).

Manatee County is the administering agency for CDBG-DR funds awarded under Federal Register Notice 90 FR 4759 as a result of presidentially declared disaster events DR-4806-FL (Debby), DR-4828-FL(Helene), and DR-4834-FL (Milton). The County has branded it CDBG-DR efforts under the “Lasting Manatee” initiative, which also may be denoted as “Lasting Manatee (CDBG-DR)”.

Notice is hereby given that Lasting Manatee (CDBG-DR) is presently seeking public input on its Draft CDBG-DR Action Plan (the Plan). The Plan describes the methods the County will use to distribute funds it expects to receive from HUD for recovery efforts in the Most Impacted and Distressed Area (MID) as a result of the 2024 hurricanes detailed above. The plan also contains information on proposed activities to be completed to support program implementation.

A public hearing to engage residents and stakeholders of Manatee County will be held on June 12, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Eternity Temple Church, at 716 29th St E, Palmetto, FL 34221. This meeting location is physically accessible to individuals with disabilities.

A second public hearing will be announced in an updated public notice shortly. It will be set at a meeting location that is physically accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Now that the CDBG-DR Action Plan is published, there will be a 30-day comment period to allow residents and stakeholders additional opportunity to provide input.

Comments concerning the CDBG-DR Action Plan can be given as follows:

• In person at the public hearings detailed above 

• Via email at: [email protected]

• Online at: www.mymanatee.org/lastingmanatee

• Via telephone at: (941) 742-4787

• Via mail at: 

Manatee County, Government Relations

Attn: Lasting Manatee  

1112 Manatee Avenue West

Bradenton, FL 34205

Comments will be accepted through Friday, June 20, 2025.

Lasting Manatee (CDBG-DR) is committed to ensuring all stakeholders, especially low- and moderate-income persons and those from the most impacted communities have meaningful access to and engagement with recovery efforts and opportunities.

In accordance with the County’s Citizen Participation Plan and requirements of applicable Federal Register Notice(s), members of the community are encouraged to participate and share their feedback and concerns around the use of CDBG-DR funds which will be incorporated into the development of the final CDBG-DR Action Plan.

The HUD Office of the Inspector General Hotline is (800) 347-3735 or (800) 877-8339 (TTY). This hotline provides callers with information on how to report fraud, waste, and abuse complaints. The Manatee County Confidential Fraud Hotline at 314-615-7000 is another avenue for citizens, vendors and County employees to report suspected fraud or waste of public funds or resources for reporting issues involving Manatee County Government only. 

All program materials including this Public Notice and the draft Action Plan can be found online at the Manatee County CDBG-DR Webpage linked below: