On Tuesday, July 26, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that City of Milton was awarded a $5.9 million-dollar competitive grant by the Federal Economic Development Administration to be used for construction of the new North Santa Rosa Regional Water Reclamation Facility.  The new, state of the art, advanced wastewater treatment facility will be located on City owned property in the Santa Rosa Industrial Park.  The initial construction will see a 2 million gallon per day (MGD) treatment facility, disposal area and associated infrastructure.  The plant can be expanded as future demand dictates up to 8 MGD.  This project will remove 100% of the City’s treated effluent from the Blackwater River by 2025, which will enhance the river’s vitality and protect flora and fauna that call the river home.  Additionally, the new plant will add capacity for the expanding regional, national and international companies that are quickly filling the area’s industrial parks.  The funds are part of the American Rescue Plan.  

“I want to personally thank the EDA, the Emerald Coast Planning Council and City Staff, specifically, Sandi Woodbery, for securing these funds for the new treatment plant.  With this award, we have received funding commitments or actual awards of all the funds necessary to build the new plant and put it into operation to serve not just the citizens of the City of Milton, but all of central Santa Rosa County for the next 50+ years.  This grant is bringing our tax dollars back to our community to benefit our citizens.  With City Council’s steadfast leadership and commitment, we are ready to move forward past the planning stage to actual construction later this year.  It’s been a long time coming”, said City Manager Randy Jorgenson.   

Milton Mayor Heather Lindsay said, “The City has been working hard for years to gather the support needed for us to build this critical infrastructure project. I am grateful for the work that was done to secure this grant and grateful for the support of Secretary Raimondo to assist us in what Representative Jayer Williamson has dubbed the ‘silver bullet project’ to unlock economic opportunity for this region.”

For more information, please contact the City of Milton’s Grants Office at (850) 983-5400 or email Sandra Woodbery at [email protected].  At EDA, please contact Mr. John Atwood, [email protected]

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