Manatee County is inviting residents to help shape how it will use a $252 million federal grant for long-term hurricane recovery and resilience.

The initiative, called Lasting Manatee, is focused on addressing unmet needs from the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton in 2024. Funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, the grant is part of a $12 billion national package approved by Congress in December 2024.

A community meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on May 13 at the Central Library in Bradenton (1301 Barcarrota Blvd. W.), where residents can offer feedback and suggestions on how the funds should be distributed.

“We want the community to be a part of the solution,” the county said in a statement. “This is an opportunity for residents to help shape how these recovery funds will benefit the areas most impacted by last year’s storms.”

HUD guidelines require that at least 70% of the funds support low- and moderate-income communities, with a focus on four areas:

• Housing
• Public facilities and infrastructure
• Economic revitalization
• Public services and mitigation efforts

On May 6, Manatee County commissioners approved a proposal to distribute funds proportionally by population, using 2023 Census estimates:

• Unincorporated Manatee: 82.28%
• Bradenton: 12.94%
• Palmetto: 3.08%
• Holmes Beach: 0.69%
• Longboat Key: 0.58%
• Anna Maria: 0.23%
• Bradenton Beach: 0.21%

The Lasting Manatee team is now coordinating with local municipalities and collecting information from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and insurance companies to identify eligible projects. However, community input remains essential to ensure the funding addresses local needs and builds resilience.

In addition to the upcoming May 13 meeting, about 50–60 residents attended a previous community session on April 24 at Eternity Temple Church in Palmetto.

Residents who are unable to attend in person can learn more and participate online at mymanatee.org/lastingmanatee.

The county aims to complete a draft action plan by May 20, hold public hearings in the following weeks, and submit the final plan to HUD by June 30.

About Lasting Manatee
Administered by Manatee County, Lasting Manatee oversees the county’s $252,711,000 CDBG-DR allocation. The program supports recovery from the 2024 hurricanes and aims to strengthen the region against future disasters.

About HUD’s CDBG-DR Program
HUD’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program provides flexible funding to help communities rebuild after federally declared disasters. The grants are designed to support long-term recovery, especially in underserved areas. Learn more at hud.gov/hud-partners/community-cdbg-dr.

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