Escambia RESTORE project deadline nears


  • September 10, 2015
  • /   Shannon Nickinson
  • /   community-dashboard

BP oil spill skimmers. Photo credit University of West Florida

For those keeping score, time is almost up to submit projects for RESTORE funding to enhance the economy, environment or tourism industries, which are critical to the quality of life in Escambia County.

The deadline is Sept. 30 for using the online portal to propose ideas to be considered for funding with proceeds from the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies (RESTORE) Act.

Escambia’s share of that money looks to be $58 million, about half of what locals expected it to be. Projects are supposed.

County officials say nearly 65 local entities registered in the portal. Projects that have been put into the portal include:

—  Design work for a 6.5-mile, paved multiuse path on the north side of Perdido Key Drive from the Alabama state line to the Theo Baars Bridge.

— $605,000 to replace 11 of the 33 dune walkovers on Pensacola Beach from Park East to Park West. The new walkovers will include handicapped accessible observation decks for wheelchairs on the south end of the walkways.

— Project of updating culverts along Dog Track Road and retention ponds would prevent Hampton Lake community of 77 townhouses from flooding.

— A community crisis center in the area near 1002 Navy Blvd., roughly near Warrington Middle School, that residents nearby could use in a natural disaster.

The Escambia County RESTORE Advisory Committee will meet at 4 p.m. Oct. 20 in county commission chambers, 221 Palafox Place, to discuss the submitted projects and the next step in the process.

— A community center for the Cantonment CRA off Muscogee Road. Cantonment is a traditionally underserved area and the center could serve as a job training center, library, adult education center, center for tutoring, senior citizens center, recreation center and housing assistance center. The center will be designed to LEED standards with a strong focus on native landscaping and habitat restoration. The native landscaping will be enhanced with walking/bike paths and a community garden.

No project proposals will be accepted after the portal’s closing date.

To see what projects already have received funding with BP money paid as fines related to the Deepwater Horizon disaster of April 2010, look here:

{{business_name}}BP oil spill money Where it goes 9-9-2015
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