Hurricane Ian U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Grant Program 

 INTRODUCTION 
 
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) allocated $1,107,881 directly to Lee County to support long-term recovery efforts. The disaster recovery funds must be used for disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure, housing, economic revitalization, mitigation and planning.  
 
Each of the activities mentioned above must be CDBG eligible activities and meet a CDBG-DR National Objective.   
 
1. Activities benefiting low- and moderate- income persons  
2. Activities which aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight  
3. Activities designed to meet community development having a particular urgency   
 
At least 70% of the grant must be used for projects that benefit Low-to-Moderate income households, which HUD defines as a family at or below 80% of Area Median Income. In Lee County a single person household would qualify at $52,450 or less per year, while the limit for total household income is $74,000 per year for a family of four.  
 
Lee County, through the Lee County CDBG-DR Action Plan has identified the eligible activities below for countywide funding and the housing related programs will be implemented specifically for all areas of Lee County (includes its municipalities). For more information on the housing related programs contact LeeCares at (239) 382-5453 or leeflcares.com. The eligible activities outlined in the Lee County Action Plan are:  
 
LeeCares Individual Housing Recovery   
Housing Rehabilitation Reconstruction and Elevation  
Home Purchase Assistance  
Voluntary Residential Acquisition  
Affordable Housing Development and Preservation  
Planning  
Public Facilities and Critical Infrastructure  
Public Services  
 
Hurricane Ian - CDBG-DR PUBLIC FACILITIES AND Critical Infrastructure Projects  
 
Lee County published a NOFO for the Public Facilities Program and Critical Infrastructure Program on March 5, 2024 with a grant submittal deadline of May 24, 2024. The minimum funding request was $5 million, and the maximum request was $50 million. On May 24th, 2024 the District staff submitted an application for the following project:  
 
Public Facilities  
 
Fire Station #2 (Saint James City)  
  
The Lee County Infrastructure Evaluation Committee met on Monday, August 12, 2024 to review all the countywide projects. After careful review of the projects by the committee the District’s Fire Station #2 Reconstruction Project was recommended for funding in the amount of $5,033,395.85, which is what was requested by the District.  
 
Lee County staff took the committee’s recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) for final approval September 3, 2024. The BoCC adopted the committee’s recommendations and the District is currently working through the subgrantee agreement with Lee County. The agreement is projected to be approved by both parties in February with construction starting soon after.  
 
Concerns and Complaints  
 
Anyone dissatisfied with the nature of, the services provided, or decisions made on behalf of the Hurricane Ian CDBG-DR Planning Projects and/or the Critical Infrastructure Project may register a complaint or file a formal appeal in accordance with the District’s CDBG-DR complaint and appeal processes.  
  
 
COMPLAINTS: Complaints generally pertain to the nature of the program, or the level or quality of services provided. Complaints must be submitted in writing. When the District receives a complaint, the complaint should be directed to the CDBG-DR Project Manager, Fire Chief Mickuleit, to evaluate and respond. All complaints will be acknowledged within five (5) business days of receipt. All complaints will be considered and responded to generally within thirty (30) business days. Should a specific complaint require more than thirty (30) business days to address, the CDBG-DR Project Manager handling the complaint will advise the complainant in writing accordingly and indicate when the response can be fully addressed. The District will maintain records of all documents submitted and issued concerning the complaint.  
 
 
For assistance with the CDBG-DR complaint process, call Sarah Miles at (239) 283-0030 or Email: miles@pineislandfire.org.  
 
  
 
All written comments or complaints may be submitted to the following address:   
 
Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District  

5700 Pine Island Rd. 

Bokeelia, FL 33922 

ATTN: Chief Benjamin Mickuleit  
 
 
Records of all comments, objections, and/or complaints by citizens concerning the Matlacha Pine Island Fire Control District’s CDBG-DR program and subsequent action taken in response to those comments will be maintained on file by the District and shall be made available for public inspection upon request.   
  
 
Procurement and Contracts  
 
 As contracts come online the District will provide the following information, at a minimum, for each vendor associated with the Hurricane Ian CDBG-DR Projects:  
 
1. Consultant’s name (Vendor)  
2. Professional service  
3. Contract execution date  
4. Contract amount  
5. Funds spent to date  
 
 
WHO CAN I CONTACT TO ANSWER MY CDBG-DR QUESTIONS?  
  
Sarah Miles, Finance Manager  
Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District  
Email: miles@pineislandfire.org.  
Phone: (239) 283-0030  
 
  
Funding provided by Lee County Board of County Commissioners and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery. The City as well as all vendors are required to comply in accordance with Federal Grant Requirements, 2 CFR part 200, terms, conditions and specifications.