Volusia County Approves Nearly $50 Million in Flooding Grants

The Volusia County Council on Tuesday gave approval for almost $50 million in grants to over a dozen projects across the county aimed at mitigating the effects of flooding. The grant money came from a larger pool of funding from the federal government allotted to Volusia County to aid in recovery from Hurricane Ian in 2022.

When the County Council brought the grant funding to a vote, they ultimately decided by a unanimous 6-0 decision to approve the funding. The $50 million will go alongside almost $30 million from local applicants to amount to around $80 million in total infrastructure investments. The greater Transform386 project encompasses this newest round of investments, initiated by the county government for Ian relief.

"These projects mark the latest phase of the County's ongoing strategy to strengthen flood protection and community resilience," the county said in a statement. "The Volusia County Council has now awarded over $110 million in federal recovery funding for infrastructure and mitigation projects in less than a year. By partnering closely with local governments and nonprofit organizations, the County continues to deliver sustainable, community-wide solutions that protect residents, businesses, and critical infrastructure from future storm impacts."

Areas Marked for Improvement

The dollars allotted for flood mitigation and infrastructure projects will be distributed across eight areas in seven of Volusia County's cities. The county government detailed this plan as follows in a release this week:

• DeBary – West Highbanks Road Flood Mitigation Project: Replacement of an open ditch system with a new stormwater conveyance system to reduce flooding during major rainfall.
• DeLand – Glen Eagles Stormwater Expansion: Acquisition and removal of a flood-prone townhouse to expand stormwater capacity.
• Deltona – Elkcam Boulevard and Sweet Gum Lake Projects: Major drainage upgrades, including new storm conveyances at Elkcam and a permanent pump station and stormwater pond improvements at Sweet Gum Lake.
• Port Orange – Sugar Forest, Sleepy Hollow, Powers Avenue, and Portona Area Projects: Construction of new stormwater ponds, pumping systems, and flood-relief infrastructure to protect neighborhoods and roadways.
• South Daytona – Aspen Stormwater Pond Expansion: Expansion of an existing stormwater pond and pump station to protect 228 homes in the Big Tree Village subdivision.
• Ponce Inlet – Stormwater Drainage Improvements Phase 1: Property acquisitions to improve flood storage capacity and drainage connectivity.
• Volusia County – East Taylor Road Pump Station and Water Retention Expansion in DeLand: Expansion of stormwater storage and installation of a new pump station to improve system efficiency and reduce flooding impacts.
• Nonprofit partners – Roof replacements at Hope Place and Palmetto House, and stormwater infrastructure upgrades for the Housing Authority of the City of New Smyrna Beach.