Community workshops will help shape how over $1.3 billion in federal disaster relief is used.

Pasco and Pinellas counties are inviting residents to weigh in on how to spend more than a billion dollars in hurricane recovery funds. Both counties are launching a series of public workshops to gather community input on priorities for long-term recovery projects.

Pasco County received about $585 million in federal hurricane relief from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Community Development Block Grant program. Although the funds were initially frozen due to a federal budget pause, they were released in March, allowing county officials to move forward with planning.

To guide spending decisions, Pasco officials will host a series of seven community meetings. The first three, set for April, will focus on brainstorming. Four more sessions in May will offer residents a chance to provide feedback on a draft recovery plan.

“We really want to hear from our residents—what they see in the community and what they believe are the top priorities,” said Marcy Esbjerg, a county spokesperson.

The first workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 14 at the J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex. Additional meetings will take place at 6 p.m. on April 17 at Hudson Library and at 6 p.m. on April 21 at the Moore-Mickens Education Center.

Esbjerg said that 70% of Pasco’s funding will be directed to low- and moderate-income households and neighborhoods—communities she described as “vulnerable” and especially “hard hit” by recent storms.

In preparation for the workshops, county officials analyzed data from FEMA, the Small Business Administration, and HUD. So far, the greatest need identified is housing, and the meetings aim to help determine which types of housing are in highest demand. Infrastructure improvements—such as better evacuation routes and stormwater systems—are also a priority.

Pinellas County, which received $813 million through the same grant, is similarly allocating 70% of its funds to low- and moderate-income areas. Over 2,400 residents have already filled out an online survey identifying local needs. The survey is open until April 18 and available in English and Spanish.

Pinellas has hosted two public meetings so far and has a third scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 24 at Harbor Hall in Palm Harbor. The County Commission will review its draft recovery plan on May 6 at 9:30 a.m., followed by two virtual public meetings—one at 11 a.m. on May 13 and another at 6 p.m. on May 15.

“These funds are for unmet needs—long-term recovery efforts that go beyond what insurance, FEMA, or SBA assistance can cover,” the county’s website explains.

Both counties anticipate launching hurricane recovery projects later this fall, following final input from the community.

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