Florida: Governor Ron DeSantis Awards 14 Florida Communities Through Rural Infrastructure Fund
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced in Washington County on October 13 that the state is awarding $27 million through the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to 14 small and rural communities, including eight communities and counties in the Florida Panhandle, which took a direct hit from Hurricane Isaias.
DeSantis also announced $24.3 million for 12 additional rural communities, and a $499,500 Florida Job Growth Grant Fund award to the Town of Century for a building renovation and fire suppression system upgrade aimed at landing a potential tenant.
FloridaCommerce announced in June 2026 that $27 million was available statewide this cycle, including $5 million dedicated to the Panhandle counties of Calhoun, Gadsden, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty and Washington. The 2026-2027 RIF cycle drew a record 141 applications requesting more than $193 million.
Major Panhandle awards include $2,497,933 to Calhoun County to acquire and renovate a commercial building next to the new Calhoun Liberty Hospital campus for a co-located primary care clinic, rural specialty care center and county EMS operations, creating about 33 full-time jobs, plus $1,000,000 for design and construction of a commercial hangar at the Calhoun County Airport. The City of Chipley receives $911,980 for downtown parking improvements in its Historic Commercial District. Jackson County receives $1,985,500 for an access roadway and utilities to the roughly 300-acre Endeavor Industrial Park, and $1,970,115 for an approximately 13-acre RV park and campground at Blue Springs Recreational Area in Marianna. Washington County receives $300,000 for a feasibility study for a regional sports and entertainment complex, and $1,436,470.80 for Phase II of the Holmes Valley Gateway Project, about 4.07 miles of roadway, plus $2,053,677 through FDOT.
Other statewide awards include $3,500,000 to Chiefland for a 55,000-square-foot grocery development; $3,500,000 to Walton County for access improvements and railroad crossing signals at the Northwest Florida Commerce Park; $3,000,000 to Gulf County for about seven miles of wastewater transmission lines and lift stations along State Road 71; $2,500,000 to Jefferson County for water, wastewater, road and stormwater work at the Jefferson County Industrial Park; and $1,312,500 to Franklin County to stabilize the St. George Island Boat Ramp shoreline, supporting an estimated 200 to 300 maritime and tourism workers.
DeSantis and Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said infrastructure gaps have long limited rural communities' ability to recruit employers, and that targeted investment helps small towns keep businesses and young people.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 佛罗里达州杰克逊县法院，位于玛丽安娜（资料图）。CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The Jackson County Courthouse in Marianna, Florida (file photo). CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
