Polk County will soon begin implementing a $70 million grant to improve water flow and quality from North Lakeland to the Peace River.
The money originated as a community development block grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for disaster recovery related to storms in 2023 and 2024. Florida Commerce dispersed the funds to municipalities throughout the state.
The $70 million grant might be the largest Polk County has ever received, County Manager Bill Beasley said at the May 5 County Commission meeting. Beasley praised Tabitha Biehl, the county’s director of parks and natural resources, for her perseverance in securing the funds…