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Gov. DeSantis announces $21 million for Hurricane Irma recovery in Keys, plus $35 million for affordable housing

The Keys were hard hit by the 2017 storm.
Debris left behind by Hurricane Irma is scattered everywhere in a neighborhood called "The Avenues" in Big Pine Key on Sept. 29, 2017. (Times | 2017)
Debris left behind by Hurricane Irma is scattered everywhere in a neighborhood called "The Avenues" in Big Pine Key on Sept. 29, 2017. (Times | 2017)
Published June 21, 2019

Officials say the Florida Keys will receive $21 million for Hurricane Irma recovery, along with $35 million for affordable housing.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the money during a Thursday news conference in Marathon.

The $21 million comes from the Florida Division of Emergency Management to reimburse Monroe County for debris removal, emergency protective measures and damage to other facilities following Hurricane Irma's September 2017 landfall in Florida.

The $35 million is part of a statewide program to provide $140 million for the construction of new affordable workforce housing to help address housing shortages worsened by Hurricane Irma. This funding is awarded by Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Rebuild Florida program and will be administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.