News

REP YOHO ANNOUNCES $7.8 MILLION GRANT FOR STARKE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY

Nov 20, 2019

Press Release

GAINESVILLE, FL. – Congressman Yoho announced Wednesday a $7.8 million grant to the City of Starke to update the city’s 40-year-old wastewater treatment facility. This USDA grant will improve service to over 2,300 residents and bolster local economic development efforts. The grant will be matched with a loan secured by the city for $8.8 million.

The award comes as part of a larger package of grants across the Country totaling $635 million for 122 projects aimed at improving water systems and wastewater systems across 42 states. This announcement comes as a key action item established by the Presidential Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity.

Congressman Yoho issued the following statement:

“I am proud to announce $7.8 million in funds for the great City of Starke which will be used to upgrade their wastewater treatment facility. This is a key issue that needed to be resolved before we could look at other ways to bolster economic growth in the city and surrounding areas. Reinforcing and upgrading this critical infrastructure is not only an immediate improvement to residents and customers but a signal that the City of Starke is serious about growth and development. I would like to thank all the stakeholders and partners who have worked tirelessly on this project. Congratulations to the city on this very big accomplishment.”

Starke City Manager Bob Milner issued the following statement:

“The City of Starke is extremely grateful to Congressman Yoho and his staff as well as the USDA for this extremely important grant. Along with an $8 million loan from the USDA, this $7.8 million grant will allow us to replace aging infrastructure and better serve not only our 5000+ residents, but it is the critical piece necessary to position the City of Starke and Bradford County to enable economic development for decades to come. This new advanced waste water treatment plant will allow hundreds of residents in and around the City of Starke to get off septic tanks in the coming years and seriously improve our environment. it will also significantly decrease the amount of influent we are currently forced to release into our waterways. This is the single largest grant ever received by the City of Starke and we cannot over emphasize the importance of assistance from Congressman Yoho and the USDA.”

BRADFORD COUNTY, Fla. (WCJB)-- An airport in Bradford county is getting a $2.3 million grant from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund.

By Voleer Thomas | 

Press Release Updated: Wed 7:28 PM, Jan 09, 2019

On Monday, former Florida governor and current senator Rick Scott awarded six projects on Monday and announced that they will receive money from the Florida Job Growth Grant.

Keystone Heights Airport in Bradford County was one of the six projects.

Keystone Heights Airport Chairman David Kirkland is excited to use the money to help fund projects such as building an access road through the airport, enhance broadband and telecommunications connectivity, as well as create more jobs in the area.

“I think a lot of airports and a lot of companies have funding challenges and that's one of the things that we've experienced here,” Kirkland said. “While we had this in our masterplan, it was further out and to be able to receive this grant will expedite and implementing that.”

The next plan for the airport is to discuss plans with engineers about constructing fiber optic facilities on the property.

The other projects that will receive grants are the Crawford Diamond industrial site in the town of Callahan, Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, State College of Florida to create the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation, Greenville’s manufacturing facility, and the city of Avon Park to extend industrial water and sewer connectivity.