Danny Federico
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Representative Jason Shoaf announced on Monday, May 22, he successfully secured a commitment for as much as $56.2 million in state funding over the 2023-24 fiscal year to Suwannee, Hamilton, Lafayette and Dixie Counties. These funds will cover various infrastructure repairs, projects and support for area first responders.
Shoaf secured a total of $13.4 million for Hamilton County, of which $750,000 will cover upgrades to the county wastewater treatment plant lift station and $300,000 will cover renovations to Phase I of the Arena Fairgrounds Facility.
“The Hamilton County Arena Fairgrounds Facility is an important part of this community,” explained Rep. Shoaf. “Much- needed updates to the facility will be a years-long project, and I will continue to make sure that I am doing what I can to help that process.”
For Lafayette County, he secured a total of $12.7 million, of which $8.5 million will cover first responder upgrades and infrastructure repairs to the emergency operations center an the county jail. In addition, $400,000 will cover repairs to Southwest County Road 534.
“Making sure that our first responders are equipped to respond to emergencies in a timely manner is crucial,” Rep. Shoaf explained. “Keeping my constituents safe has always been a top priority of mine, and I am proud of the funding I was able to secure to help our local police and firefighters do just that.”
He also secured a total of $5.9 million for Dixie County, of which $1.4 million will go toward the purchase of two county fire tankers and one engine for the Cross City Fire Department. In addition, $2 million will go toward communications equipment and infrastructure for the county's critical first responders, and $1 million will go toward updates to the Dixie County Sheriff's Office.
For Suwannee County, Shoaf secured a whopping total of $24.2 million, of which $4.2 million will go toward the county's industrial complex; $304,000 will go toward improvements on the U.S.129 water main loop; $500,000 will go toward repairs to the county's industrial complex rail crossing; $800,000 will go toward a Suwannee County Fire/Rescue pump engine; $300,000 will go toward the Town of Branford's spray field project; $475,000 will go toward the Branford Volunteer Fire Department's purchase of a Sutphin SP 70 Aerial Platform Firetruck; and $4 million will go toward RIVEROAK Technical College.
“Poor infrastructure has held back our community's ability to thrive for too long,” said Rep. Shoaf. “These infrastructure upgrades, combined with funding for RIVEROAK Technical College, will both create more opportunities and provide a skilled workforce for Suwannee County.”
In addition, $1.2 million will go toward the Suwannee County's first responders.