$252 Million in Hurricane Recovery Funding
for Manatee County Homeowners

If your home was damaged by Hurricane Debby, Helene, or Milton last year, Manatee County set aside real money to help homeowners recover — and there is still time to apply. The county just extended the application deadline, so if you thought you missed your window, read on.

Manatee County has been awarded $252.7 million in federal disaster recovery funds through a program called Lasting Manatee. This is not a loan. It is grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development designed to help homeowners who still have unmet recovery needs after insurance and FEMA.

What Is Lasting Manatee?

Lasting Manatee is Manatee County's Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. After the 2024 hurricane season hit our area hard, HUD allocated over $252 million to help our community rebuild stronger.

The money funds two major programs:

The Home Recovery Program

This is the one most homeowners need to know about. The Home Recovery Program helps eligible homeowners repair, reconstruct, elevate, or replace storm-damaged homes that still have unmet recovery needs - meaning damage that was not fully covered by insurance, FEMA assistance, or other aid.

If you have been living with a patched roof, water damage behind the walls, mold issues, or structural problems since the storms, this program was built for you.

What qualifies?

• Your home was damaged by Hurricane Debby, Helene, or Milton in the 2024 season
• You still have unmet recovery needs after insurance and FEMA payouts
• Your home is located in Manatee County
• You are the homeowner (not a renter - though additional programs may follow)

The Infrastructure Program

The second piece is the Infrastructure Recovery and Resiliency Program (IRRP). This one is county-level - it funds long-term improvements that protect our communities from future storms:

• Stormwater system upgrades and drainage improvements
• Flood mitigation infrastructure
• Roadway and bridge resiliency enhancements
• Utility hardening and water system improvements
• Shoreline stabilization

This matters for property values. Communities that invest in resilient infrastructure hold value better and are more attractive to buyers long-term.

How to Apply

Why I Am Sharing This

I am a real estate agent, not a government employee. But I live and work in Manatee County, and I know firsthand how many homeowners are still dealing with damage from last year's storms. Some are trying to sell homes with unresolved issues. Others are sitting on damage they cannot afford to fix.

This program exists to help, and the county just extended the application deadline to August 31, 2026. I am sharing it widely because I do not want anyone in our community to miss out on real money simply because they did not know the window reopened.

If you or someone you know was affected by the 2024 hurricanes and still has unresolved damage, reach out. I keep an eye on what's available — I'm always glad to point you in the right direction.

Your home is your biggest investment. If there is federal money available to protect it, take it.