Each year, organizations and state or local governments are able to submit appropriations requests to their U.S. Representatives. Below you can find information on the requests submitted on behalf of FL-17 for Fiscal Year 2022.
Proposed Recipient: Lee County, FL
Address of Recipient: 2115 Second St. Fort Myers, FL, 33901
Amount of the Request: $720,000
Request Explanation: The purpose of this funding is to implement best management practices for the Bob Janes Preserve Restoration Project to create a more productive native ecosystem and reduce nutrient discharges into the Caloosahatchee River. Given the risk of red tide, we believe that this project is worth investing in to maintain the water quality of our rivers.
Proposed Recipient: Jacksonville District of the Army Corps of Engineers
Address of Recipient: 701 San Marco., Blvd, Jacksonville, FL, 32207
Amount of the Request: $500,000
Request Explanation: The purpose of this funding is to conduct a study of the Charlotte County shoreline with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address significant shoreline erosion, especially along Manasota Key. Several emergencies have been declared since 2014 as soil erosion threatens infrastructure and homes. This project is worth investing in to maintain the quality of our coastal homes and infrastructure.
Proposed Recipient: Charlotte County, FL
Address of Recipient: 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, FL, 33948
Amount of the Request: $3.2 million
Request Explanation: This will close the gap on an important septic-to-sewer conversion in the Ackerman area near the Myakka River and Charlotte Harbor. This project will be directly involved in converting 2,135 septic lots to sewer systems. This is critical to lowering the risk of septic seepage and increase water quality in the area.
Proposed Recipient: Child Protection Center, Inc.
Address of Recipient: 720 South Orange Avenue, Sarasota, FL, 34236
Amount of the Request: $3.5 million
Request Explanation: The funding will be used to construct a child advocacy center in North Port, Florida in area servicing 43,000 students with the likely addition of 10,000 students in the coming years through development growth. With this number of children, there is a need to provide services to protect children from child abuse. This program will bring those services to North Port, Florida.
Proposed Recipient: DeSoto County, FL
Address of Recipient: 201 East Oak St, Arcadia, Florida, 34266
Amount of the Request: $2 million
Request Explanation: Desoto County is estimating that active development orders will include over six hundred units in development in the next few years. Without expansion, these units will be fitted with septic tanks near the Peace River. To protect water quality in Desoto County, this project is necessary.
Proposed Recipient: Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida’s Graduates
Address of Recipient: P.O. Box 1779, Flagler Beach, FL, 32136
Amount of the Request: $1.5 million
Request Explanation: Learning loss has hurt all Floridian’s and there is a risk that at-risk Floridian youth who were struggling before the pandemic are doing worse now. This program will focus on working with at-risk youth on making up their learning loss, getting them ready for graduation, and preparing them for life after school. Early intervention now will create more productive citizens later.
Proposed Recipient: Okeechobee Utility Authority
Address of Recipient: 100 SW 5th Ave., Okeechobee, Florida, 34974
Amount of the Request: $1 million
Request Explanation: This funding is necessary to convert 1,600 to 2,000 residents away from septic tanks and to a centralized wastewater collection system on Treasure Island. The estimated impact of this is an annual reduction of 5.3 tons of phosphorous into Lake Okeechobee.
Proposed Recipient: Sarasota County, FL
Address of Recipient: 1660 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236
Amount of the Request: $1 million
Request Explanation: This project would provide for a portable transmission main that doubles as an emergency interconnect between North Port and the rest of Sarasota County. Currently there is no emergency interconnect and in the event of a water main disruption there is no avenue to deliver water to residents. This program will lower the risk of potentially intense disruptions in water delivery.
Proposed Recipient: Jacksonville District of the Army Corps of Engineers
Address of Recipient: 701 San Marco., Blvd, Jacksonville, FL, 32207
Amount of the Request: $2.5 million
Request Explanation: The purpose of this funding is to conduct critical maintenance dredging work in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The West Coast Inland Navigation District has identified the need for maintenance dredging in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Further, on the Venice Jetty serious erosion has been observed that requires study. Taken together, this funding will be critical to maintaining our local waterways.
Request #10 (Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure)
Name of project: Harborview Road from Melbourne St. to I-75
Location: Harborview Road in Charlotte County between Melbourne Street, near U.S. Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) and I-75
Project sponsor: Charlotte County, Florida
Amount of the Request: $21,000,000
Request Explanation: This funding will be used for a road widening project on Harborview Road to ensure ease of mobility as the population grows and maintain driver safety. Upon project completion, the road will improve on the existing bottleneck.
Proposed Recipient: Sarasota County, FL
Address of Recipient: 1660 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236
Amount of the Request: $1,000,000
Request Explanation: This project will provide for the design of widening the next phase for the River Road Regional Interstate Connector which is a major arterial roadway from State Road 776 (Charlotte County) to Interstate 75 (Sarasota County). The project will provide widening from an undivided 2 lane road to a divided 4 lane roadway with elevation improvement, adding capacity, correcting deficiencies, and providing for a critical hurricane evacuation route.
