On Tuesday, June 12, we held the final public hearing for our CDBG-DR Draft Action Plan, which was welcomed by a strong turnout at Eternity Temple Church in Palmetto. This event was a meaningful close to our series of in-person public hearings and workshops for residents to engage with Lasting Manatee and to share comments that aim to shape our County’s post-hurricane recovery.

As part of the media capture for the hearing, we greatly appreciated the outstanding videography and photography provided by our own County staff—Jonathan Calhoun (Sr. Video Production Specialist) and Stuart Shinn (Video Production Specialist). FOX 13’s videographer, Omar Delgado, also attended the event and conducted a pre-hearing interview with Odugo Ohizu (Communications Coordinator – CDBG-DR), where she highlighted how the public can stay involved and submit feedback even if they’re unable to attend in person.

The evening opened with a prayer offered by an elder of ETC, setting a thoughtful tone for what would become a night of meaningful exchange and focused dialogue. Odugo next welcomed the audience and offered introductions for each of the Lasting Manatee team members.

Following that, Edrick Sweeting (Grant Supervisor – CDBG-DR) took the lead in presenting the Draft Action Plan, marking his first time as the featured speaker at our public hearings. He delivered a comprehensive walk-through of the plan’s origins (the “unmet needs assessment”), clearly broke down the details of the planned recovery programs, and engaged openly with questions from the attendees throughout the slideshow presentation.

During the closing Q&A segment, Michele Davis (Grant Division Manager) stepped in to help address every question, and offer clarifications. Debbie Roller (Grant Administrator – CDBG-DR) and Ronda Watts (Grant Administrator – CDBG-DR) were also present to support the event and ensure everyone who wanted to speak had the opportunity to participate. Key questions from the audience included:

• Will homeowners who have already paid for repairs be eligible for reimbursement?
• Is there any way to expedite the timeline for individual assistance?
• What should organizations expect when submitting suggestions for infrastructure projects in municipal areas compared to unincorporated Manatee?

With this final hearing now complete, we’re sincerely grateful to every resident who attended, whether they spoke up, or simply listened in. Four official comments were captured at this event. Public comment continues to drive this process, and we remain committed to reflecting the voice of the community in every step of our hurricane recovery efforts.

A PDF of the evening's slideshow presentation can be viewed by clicking here.

We encourage you to check out the Lasting Manatee (CDBG-DR) Action Plan and the different ways to submit your comment by clicking here. A hard copy of the Draft Action Plan can also be read at any full-service Manatee County library. View all library locations by clicking here.