Santa Fe College is planning to apply for funding from the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, which is part of the Rebuild Florida 2023 and 2024 Storms Infrastructure Repair Program. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and managed by FloridaCommerce, has allocated $400 million for communities affected by Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene, Milton, and the 2024 North Florida tornadoes.
The college aims to request approximately $5.3 million in grant funds to support a project focused on hardening its gymnasium facility in Gainesville. The gymnasium was built in 1979 and serves as a key staging area for the Florida National Guard during hurricane recovery operations. Planned improvements are intended to address significant infrastructure needs at the facility.
According to Santa Fe College, “These enhancements will ensure the Gymnasium remains a resilient and reliable facility for both the College and for emergency personnel during future disaster response and recovery efforts. Once completed, the improvements would allow the Gymnasium to function as a stand-alone operating facility in the event of an emergency and power outages at the College.”
A public hearing will be held before The District Board of Trustees of Santa Fe College at 4 p.m., or as soon thereafter as can be heard, on September 23, 2025. The meeting will take place at SF Northwest Campus, Cellon Institute in Gainesville. Information about remote attendance or providing public comments can be obtained by contacting 352-395-5170 or general.counsel@sfcollege.edu at least 15 minutes prior to the meeting.
Individuals who wish to appeal decisions made during this process should arrange for a transcript according to FS s. 286.0105. The agenda is available through the President’s Office or by contacting Santa Fe College directly.
Written public comments regarding this grant application may be submitted until September 28, 2025. Additional details about submitting comments or requesting copies of the proposed application are available on Santa Fe College’s website: https://www.sfcollege.edu/executive-leadership/district-board-of-trustees/.
