Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Oct. 8 that the state Department of Economic Opportunity awarded more than $2 million for military-related programs through the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program and the Defense Infrastructure Grant Program.
Three awards totaling $432,000 are for projects and programs in Jacksonville and Clay County.
From the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program, the city of Jacksonville received $85,000 to continue efforts to bring ship-loading and maintenance plans to Naval Station Mayport and work toward the long-term goal of infrastructure funding for hosting a nuclear aircraft carrier.
Jacksonville also received $282,500 from the Defense Infrastructure Grant Program to jointly acquire restrictive use easements of properties near military installations.
The Clay County Economic Development Corporation received $64,500 from the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program to develop Clay County Economic Development’s five-year strategic plan to seek alignment with Clay County, Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Clay County Development Authority, Keystone Heights, Keystone Heights Airport Authority, Green Cove Springs, Orange Park and utility partners to grow the nondefense economy.
“During my time with the Navy, I was able to experience firsthand the tremendous impact a military installation has on its surrounding community. I’m proud to provide an opportunity for these organizations to continue to support and enhance the great partnerships Florida’s communities have with our military,” DeSantis said in a news release.
The Defense Reinvestment Grant Program provides support to community-based activities that protect existing military installations.
Grants are awarded to applicants that represent a local government with a military installation that could be adversely affected by federal actions.
The Defense Infrastructure Grant Program supports local infrastructure projects deemed to have an impact on the military value of installations within the state.
Infrastructure projects funded under the program include those related to encroachment, transportation, and access to military installations, utilities, communications, housing, environment and security.