Citrus, Levy and Dixie counties awarded funding for infrastructure improvements
Crystal River, Florida - On Thursday morning, August 29, 2024, two Florida officials visited the Citrus County Property Appraiser's office, located at 1540 N. Meadowcrest Blvd. in Crystal River, to announce the award of grant funding from two grants to three entities within Citrus, Levy and Dixie counties in Florida.
Governor Ron DeSantis and Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly explained that funding from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will go to Citrus County, Florida, and funding from the Rural Infrastructure Fund will go to the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District and the Town of Cross City, all to be used for workforce development and critical infrastructure improvements or projects that will strengthen these three rural economies.
Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (JGGF) award
Citrus County, Florida: $2.8 million for 551-acre Holder Industrial Park
The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will be used to build a wastewater line that will serve the Holder Industrial Park. This project is the final infrastructure needed to open the 551-acre industrial park to business.
The industrial park is expected to create 1,000 direct jobs and between 1,000 and 2,000 indirect jobs, many of which will be high-skill and high-wage occupations in the manufacturing, warehousing, and industrial sectors. The park's completion is estimated to increase Citrus County's Gross Domestic Product by $367 million annually.
The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund is an economic development program designed to promote public infrastructure and workforce training across the state. Proposals are reviewed by FloridaCommerce and are chosen by Governor DeSantis to meet the demands for workforce training or infrastructure needs in communities around the state.
Learn more about the Job Growth Grant Fund at FloridaJobs.org/JobGrowth.
Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) award
Cedar Key, Florida Water and Sewer District: $2.5 million to provide rehabilitation of six sewer lift stations within the city limits of Cedar Key.
Learn more about the Rural Infrastructure Fund at FloridaJobs.org/community-planning-and-development/rural-community-programs/rural-infrastructure-fund.
Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) award
Town of Cross City, Florida: $620,000 to perform water quality testing, evaluate existing potable wells, prepare an action plan for repairing and rehabilitating the existing wells, and potentially siting and drilling a new well.
Learn more about the Rural Infrastructure Fund at FloridaJobs.org/community-planning-and-development/rural-community-programs/rural-infrastructure-fund.
"Today's award will help to attract high-demand, high-wage jobs and businesses to the Nature Coast community,” said Governor DeSantis. “This strategic investment will benefit the businesses, job seekers, and local economies of Citrus County, Cross City, and Cedar Key.”
“I’m grateful for Governor DeSantis’ investment in these catalytic projects for Citrus, Dixie and Levy Counties,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “The Governor’s awarding of these funds will help elevate Citrus, Dixie and Levy County leaders’ vision for bringing high-wage, high-demand jobs to their communities.”