Governor DeSantis Awards $85M in Coastal Storm Surge and Port Hardening Grants

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Governor Ron DeSantis announced the distribution of $85 million in state resilience grants Thursday during a press conference in Tampa, funding 24 coastal hardening and flood mitigation infrastructure projects across Florida seaports and coastal municipalities.

Resilient Florida Grant Allocations

Funded through the state's Resilient Florida Program, the grants provide dedicated capital for deep-water bulkhead elevation at Port Tampa Bay and Port Everglades, high-capacity stormwater pump stations in Pinellas and Lee counties, and natural living shoreline wave attenuation projects in the Florida Keys. The state awards match local municipal bonding funds dollar-for-dollar, accelerating project completion ahead of future hurricane seasons.

Governor DeSantis stated that protecting critical maritime infrastructure is vital for state commercial logistics and petroleum fuel distribution networks.

Economic Protection and Property Insurance Mitigation

Port directors and municipal leaders emphasized that hardening coastal infrastructure directly reduces post-storm business disruption and helps mitigate soaring commercial property insurance premiums.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) confirmed that all 24 funded projects have completed certified hydrological modeling to ensure adjacent communities do not experience adverse flood displacement.

Construction Timetable and Project Milestones

Local municipal and port authorities must break ground on approved coastal hardening projects by November 1, 2026, with construction phased over 24 months.