Santa Rosa Island Authority is a Finalist for a $2.3 Million FEMA Grant
The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) has been short-listed to receive $3,180,604. million in grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aimed at mitigating repetitively-flooded properties by raising the properties’ elevation. In November 2022, SRIA submitted an application identifying 10 leasehold properties as eligible for consideration.
On Aug. 28, 2023, FEMA announced the final selection of sub-applications for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant funding totaling $711 million for fiscal year 2022. The chosen sub-applications have now entered the “Identified for Further Review” stage. These sub-applications contain sufficient information for a preliminary determination of cost-effectiveness and feasibility. In certain instances, FEMA may work with applicants to confirm cost-effectiveness and feasibility.
“While Identification for Further Review is not a notification of award, it is an indicator that these Pensacola Beach leaseholds are strong contenders, and it is a very positive sign,” said Leigh Davis, Executive Director of SRIA.
In this round, 127 individual property flood mitigation projects were selected nationwide. Of these, 97 sub-applications, totaling $220.28 million, were elevation projects like the ones proposed for Pensacola Beach. The Pensacola Beach properties, therefore, constitute 10% of the nationwide elevations for the fiscal year 2022 funding.
“We anxiously await the final notification of award to provide financial assistance for our beach residents and additional sustainability for our community as a whole,” Davis furthered.