Following the strong turnout and meaningful discussions at our June 3 public hearing, Lasting Manatee hosted an additional workshop on June 10 at GT Bray Recreation Center. This event was specifically added to ensure that community members in Cortez, Northwest Bradenton, and the islands had easier access to an in-person opportunity to learn about the CDBG-DR Draft Action Plan and engage directly with our team.

Attendees gathered at 6:30 PM, ready to dive deeper into the details of hurricane recovery funding and community rebuilding efforts. The audience included a variety of interested residents, such as homeowners who experienced extensive hurricane damage, and leaders of local nonprofits and community groups. We were also honored to have District 3 Commissioner Tal Siddique join the audience, reinforcing the importance that he and Manatee County Government place on transparent dialogue with our residents and community leaders in shaping these recovery efforts.

After opening remarks from Odugo Ohizu (Lasting Manatee’s Communications Coordinator), attendees were led through a detailed presentation of the Draft Action Plan by Michele Davis (Manatee County’s Grant Division Manager). Michele broke down the allocations of funding, planned programs, eligibility criteria, and key priorities for recovery. During the closing segment of questions and answers, we were able to address questions and concerns such as:

• How will home repairs be conducted if homeowners are unsure if it requires repair, elevation, or replacement?
• Where did Manatee County source the income values used to determine whether a household or area is Low and Moderate Income (LMI)?
• When can we learn how the individual assistance applications will be processed and what verification documents will be required?
• Will homeowners be required to pick from a predetermined pool of contractors?
• How can my preferred contractor be added to the list of approved contractors

We left this event celebrating how much our community valued the opportunity for face-to-face engagement. As the final public hearing on June 12 at Eternity Temple Church in Palmetto approaches, we remain committed to encouraging all interested residents to attend and make their voices heard. Public input remains a driving force in shaping the Lasting Manatee (CDBG-DR) hurricane recovery initiatives.