Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery

About CDBG-DR
The United States (U.S.) Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated $1,107,881,000 in funding to Lee County to support long‐term recovery efforts following Hurricane Ian.  As the grantee, Lee County is the Lead Agency responsible for administering Hurricane Ian CDBG-DR funds within the County. Lee County’s Action Plan details how funds will be allocated to address remaining unmet needs in Lee County. 

CDBG-DR funds must be used for necessary expenses related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic revitalization, mitigation, and planning. Each CDBG-DR activity must address a disaster-related impact, be a CDBG-eligible activity, and meet a CDBG national objective. At least 70% of the grant must be used for projects that benefit Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) households, which HUD defines as a family at or below 80% of Area Median Income.

Additional information can be found on Lee County’s CDBG-DR webpage.

RECOVERY PROGRAMS

Recovery and Resiliency Planning Program
Lee County issued a Notice of Funding Availability on December 5, 2023, for planning projects that benefit programs, services, or communities in Lee County and incorporate mitigation and resilience measures aimed to reduce:

• Risks to people and property
• Public service interruption for persons who are most vulnerable to natural and climate-related risks
• Disproportionate impacts of economic, social, and climate shocks to vulnerable populations, including those with disabilities, the elderly, LMI households and neighborhoods, and non-native English speakers
• Impacts and interruptions to FEMA Community Lifelines

Cape Coral submitted five planning project applications (Resolution 58-24) to Lee County and was awarded a total of $4,124,733.13 for all five projects. The City’s awarded planning projects include:

1. North Cape Coral Drainage Basin Alternative Restoration Plan - $2,558,750.00
   1. The Drainage Basin Alternative Restoration Plan (ARP) is a strategic response designed to reduce risks to people, property, and the continuity of essential public services, particularly for those most vulnerable to such risks. By improving water quality, the plan aims to support the growth and health of mangrove fringes around stormwater discharge areas and promote the expansion of oyster and seagrass beds. The plan envisions habitat restoration that includes flood protection elements, reflecting a comprehensive approach to resilience building. Through these integrated strategies, the ARP seeks to enhance the resilience of barrier islands, unincorporated Lee and Charlotte counties and Cape Coral, ensuring the regional community’s protection and rapid recovery from future natural climate-related challenges.
2. Cape Coral Parkway: Corridor Resiliency Planning Study - $565,983.13
   1. The City of Cape Coral, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization, Lee County, and LeeTran, will complete a Corridor Resiliency Planning Study on namesake corridor and main street, Cape Coral Parkway. The primary objective of this planning grant is to develop a comprehensive and actionable resilience plan for Cape Coral. The plan will Assess Vulnerabilities, Engage Stakeholders, Develop Resilience Strategies, and Integrate with Existing Plans.
3. Disaster and Cost Recovery Plan - $400,000.00
   1. The City is developing a comprehensive disaster recovery plan with a section specific to cost recovery that meets the Emergency Management Standard set forth by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). The Disaster and Cost Recovery Plan will serve as a framework for the City to recovery in a more timely, resilient, and effective manner while engaging the community.
4. Business Community Resilience Plan - $300,000.00
   1. The Business Community Resilience Plan is a comprehensive planning effort which would identify the needs of local businesses and institutions to recover following a storm event and identify and navigate financial opportunities that can provide both economic growth and greater resilience in the community. The Plan will identify potential protection measures and continuity of operations for the City's business community due to impacts from Hurricane Ian. The Plan would look at commercial corridors across the City, encompassing retail services that the community depends on for not just daily services but critical services pre- and post-disaster.
5. Communications Plan - $300,000.00
   1. The Communications Plan will enhance internal and external emergency communications, augment communication staffing during emergencies and blue-sky events, and adopt best practices for consistent and effective public messaging.

Public Facilities and Critical Infrastructure Program

Lee County issued a Notice of Funding Availability on March 5, 2024, for projects to support public facilities and critical infrastructure in Lee County. Funds may assist with the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or installation of public facilities, critical infrastructure, and related improvements.

Cape Coral submitted six public facilities and critical infrastructure applications (Resolution 136-24) to Lee County, and was awarded a total of $40,728,319.81 for two projects:

1. Community Recreation Center and Disaster Shelter (“Cape Coral Resilience Hub”) - $29,904,200.18 
   1. The proposed project is the construction of a multi-use facility. Under blue skies, the building will serve as a recreation center providing low—and moderate-income (LMI) and senior programming such as summer camps, after-school programs, senior services, and more. Under grey skies, the facility will serve as a disaster evacuation shelter, enabling the City to provide evacuation support without impacting schools.
2. Weir Rehabilitation Upgrade or Replacement Program - $10,824,119.63
   1. The City of Cape Coral is seeking CDBG-DR funding to rehabilitate or replace weirs serving primarily low- and moderate-income (LMI) areas throughout the City. The City's weir system plays a crucial role in managing stormwater, controlling floodwater discharge, and improving the quality of the freshwater canal system. It does this by directing floodwaters through the canals to receiving waters and treating the runoff pollutants before discharging them into the receiving waters. This stormwater management system will ensure the City has an adequate supply of fresh water for irrigation and fire protection, provides water quality treatment to enhance the quality of the stormwater being discharged into receiving waters, and provides flood control.

Solicitations and Contracts
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Public Notices
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Complaints or Concerns
Complaints or any suspected fraud, waste, and abuse related to CDBG-DR-funded activities may be submitted via email to CDBG-DR@capecoral.gov or via mail to P.O. Box 150027, Cape Coral, FL, 33915. Written complaints from the public will receive a meaningful review and a written reply within fifteen (15) working days from receipt of the complaint. 

Complaints may also be submitted online at: https://cdbgdr.leegov.com.

Fair Housing
For information related to Fair Housing, please visit the City of Cape Coral Fair Housing webpage.

Contact Us
For additional information regarding the City’s CDBG-DR projects, please contact:

To request language interpretation or document translation at no charge to the requestor, please contact Constance Schwarberg at 239-573-3138 or cschwarberg@capecoral.gov.