Subject:
Title
Grant application to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Resilience Regional Challenge 2024 grant program for Joe’s Creek Greenway Trail and Channel Restoration project and the Lealman Exchange Resilience Hub.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval to apply for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Resilience Regional Challenge 2024 grant program for the Joe’s Creek Greenway Trail and Channel Restoration project (004116A) and Lealman Exchange (LEX) Resilience Hub.
• Grant funding in amount of $39,001,310.00 is requested.
• Funding from this grant would be utilized for:
o Construction of the Joe’s Creek Greenway Trail Channel Restoration Project - $13,000,000.00 to replace Penny and close funding gap.
o U.S. Highway 19/34th Street North Crossing Improvements/Culvert - $16,194,000.00.
o LEX facility improvements, workforce development, and art in public spaces and grant administration - $9,807,310.00.
• This action authorizes the Public Works Director to electronically sign and submit the grant application by the February 13, 2024 submission date.
Grant application request is $39,001,310.00 and no matching funds are required.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.5 Enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources
3.5 Foster a sustainable and resilient community that is prepared for sea level rise and a changing climate
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.2 Invest in communities that need the most assistance
4.4 Invest in Infrastructure to meet current and future needs
4.5 Provide safe and effective transportation systems to support the efficient flow of motorists, commerce, and regional connectivity
4.6 Support a vibrant community with recreation, arts, and culture to attract residents and visitors
Summary:
Summary
The County submitted a Letter of Interest to apply to the NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge Grant in August 2023. 120 selections out of 869 applications were invited to submit a full application. The County has been selected to submit a full application to the NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge.
The Joe’s Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail, combined with the LEX Resilience Hub and Public Art/Place-making projects aligns with NOAA's priorities by addressing diverse climate-related challenges. This initiative encompasses flood risk mitigation, bank erosion stabilization, water quality improvement, habitat restoration, urban heat reduction, and increased and improved sheltering capacity.
This project is located within Kenneth City and the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), which are defined as disadvantaged neighborhoods consisting of high percentage of Low Medium Income (LMI) households with limited access to motorized vehicles for transportation. The proposed improvements and workforce development program will support countywide sustainability objectives and revitalization goals of the Lealman CRA.
Body
Background Information:
The 2017 Joe’s Creek Greenway Trail Alignment Study proposed alignment of a regional trail along the Joe’s Creek corridor to provide connectivity from the Raymond H. Neri Park to the Pinellas Trail network and St. Petersburg’s future 71st Street North Trail. The 2016 Joe’s Creek Watershed Management Plan (WMP) and the 2018 Joe’s Creek Channel 1 Bank Restoration Study contained recommendations to improve flood protection, water quality, and resiliency through channel and culvert improvements and implementation of green infrastructure.
Enhancing the LEX facility directly aligns with NOAA’s risk reduction program priority by mitigating an existing shelter deficit in Pinellas County. The LEX facility is 77,000 square feet community campus comprised of three (3) buildings that Pinellas County has been developing into a Resilience Hub. A whole-building generator was installed in 2020, further hardening the facility and enabling the building to also serve as a special needs shelter for electric dependent residents. While the generator is sized to power the gymnasium, this building requires upgrades/reconstruction to withstand a Category 3 hurricane and to expand community shelter space. This would increase community sheltering capacity for an additional 480 general population residents or up to 160 special needs residents.
Fiscal Impact:
Grant funding in the amount of $39,001,310.00 is requested through the NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge. The total project estimate being used for this grant is $84,033,205.25 and includes:
• Joe’s Creek Greenway Trail and Channel Restoration (CIP project 004116A: $59,482,000). NOAA Grant would substitute $10,000,000 Penny funding and close a current project funding shortfall of $3,000,000.
• U.S. 19/34th St. N. Crossing Improvements (FDOT box culvert), not currently budgeted: $16,194,000.00
• LEX Resilience Hub (Gym Upgrade & Hardening and Workforce Development), not currently budgeted: $1,150,000.
• Public Art-Place Making, not currently budgeted: $3,000,000.
• NOAA Grant Administration, not currently budgeted: $1,857,205.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
Kenneth City
Lealman Community Redevelopment Association (CRA)
St. Petersburg Foundation
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO) / Florida Commerce
Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD)
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Attachments:
Application - SF424_4
NOAA CRRC Application Information
Budget Information - SFS24C_2
Assurances - Construction Programs (SF424D)
Project Location Map
Complied Letters of Support (10)
NOAA Notice of Funding Opportunity
Intent to Apply and Approved OMB Grant Application Review