Funds go to military communities

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $3.4 million in grant awards Wednesday that are designed to help the military's continued operations in Florida. In Northwest Florida, Santa Rosa County will receive $300,000 to purchase easements around Naval Air Station Whiting Field to provide buffer zones around the naval aviation training base. The county will also receive a $60,000 grant to promote the development of the Whiting Aviation Park. Escambia County will receive $300,000 to purchase easements for buffer zones around Naval Air Station Pensacola. The Bay County Board of County Commissioners will receive $250,000 to provide needed repairs to the Tyndall Air Force Base and Mexico Beach water supply, impacted by Hurricane Michael, while $90,000 will go to the Bay Defense Alliance to continue Hurricane Michael rebuilding efforts and assist Tyndall Air Force Base with community support and partnerships as the base implements new aircraft programs. Okaloosa County will receive $90,000 to encourage economic diversification around Eglin Air Force Base, and the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce will receive $90,000 to create high-skilled jobs for veterans. The grants are from three state programs: Defense Infrastructure Grant Program, the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program, and the Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Program. The governor made the announcements at several appearances across Florida. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, Enterprise Florida, 09/15/21)