Manatee County commissioners have approved a grant of up to $2 million toward rebuilding the Anna Maria City Pier, which was significantly damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. The total reconstruction project is estimated to cost between $7 and $8 million, with additional funding expected from FEMA and the state.
Anna Maria City Mayor Mark Short said the new pier will be built more durably than its predecessor. The walkway will use solid cement pilings rather than the hollow precast pilings installed after Hurricane Irma, with cement bents and stringers connecting them throughout. “We do believe that this walkway will survive a significant storm,” Short said, while acknowledging no construction can carry an absolute guarantee.
The pier holds both cultural and economic significance for the island community. Local business owner Michael Rain, who has worked at a nearby restaurant in Anna Maria for 17 years and fished on the pier as a child, said its return would draw locals back to the waterfront and benefit nearby businesses.
The rebuilt pier is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
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