$7M In Rescue Plan Funding Earmarked For Affordable Housing In Tampa

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — At Wednesday's meeting, the Hillsborough County Commissioned approved more than $12 million in projects to be funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, including $6.9 million for affordable housing.

Those funds will be used to help the East Tampa Business & Civic Association acquire and rehabilitate 28 multifamily rental properties on East 140th Avenue and North 23rd Street in Tampa. All of the units will be leased at below-market rent to residents making at or below 80 percent of the area median income.

Another $3.3 million will go toward improvements to two parks: Progress Village Park, 8701 Progress Blvd., Tampa, and Kings Forest Park, 8008 E. Chelsea St., Tampa. The money will be used for overall improvements at Progress Village Park and the construction of a splash pad at Kings Forest Park.

The commission designated that $2 million be spent to connect Wimauma area customers to water and sewer service by funding residential and commercial hook-up charges for water and sewer service in the Wimauma area.

The county's water resources department is working on the final design of a new vacuum sewer system. The east side of Wimauma will be the first area to be completed and will take place in five phases. Construction of the first phase is expected to begin in mid-2023.

The Hillsborough County American Rescue Plan Investment Plan, approved by the commission on Sept. 1, 2021, provides a framework for investing the $285 million in federal Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds the county received.

The commission has designated the funds for projects throughout the county related to water, sewer and broadband infrastructure; public health response; negative economic impacts; and revenue replacement for certain government services.

Also at Wednesday's commission meeting:

Commissioners approved bond issuances by the Housing Finance Authority for two affordable housing projects:

• Fulham Terrace, located in Riverview, will consist of 116 multifamily rental units for low-income, senior residents.
• Casa Bel Mar, in South Tampa, will consist of 100 multifamily rental units for low-income residents and families.

The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2. It can be viewed live on the Hillsborough County Youtube channel. The meeting agenda is available here.