County approves about $74 million in federal storm-recovery projects for Tampa pump stations, fire and police buildings
The work, paid with federal disaster recovery grants, includes generators and pump replacements at 28 wastewater pump stations and storm hardening at two fire stations and two police district offices.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY - Hillsborough County commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 10, approved the City of Tampa's share of the county's federal disaster recovery grant for infrastructure, a package of projects meant to help city pump stations, fire stations and police buildings ride out future storms, according to the official video of the meeting. The vote was 7-0.
The county's total allocation for infrastructure under the grant, known as CDBG-DR, is $355 million, with $94 million set aside for the county's three cities based on population, Rob Hendrickson, the county's CDBG-DR program manager, told the board. Tampa's share is $80 million, he said, but the city's proposed projects total about $74 million, leaving room for possible cost overruns. The money is paid on a reimbursement basis.
Brad Baird, the city's administrator of infrastructure and mobility, said the largest project covers 28 wastewater pump stations. Each will get a permanent standby generator, an electrical control panel raised above the flood plain and new pumps, he said, with completion targeted for June 2029.
About $1.2 million will harden Tampa Fire Rescue Stations 4 and 11 against severe weather, including replacing overhead apparatus doors, exterior doors and windows, with completion targeted for January 2029, Baird said. About $4.8 million will go to the Tampa Police Department's District 2 and District 3 buildings for hurricane doors and windows, building restoration and new emergency generators, targeted for June 2029.
Baird said each project serves neighborhoods that meet the grant's low- and moderate-income requirements. In separate 7-0 votes, the board also approved about $2.6 million in recovery funds to harden a county-owned building at 1109 E. 139th Ave. in Tampa so Phoenix House Florida can use it as an inpatient behavioral health treatment center for women, and a budget amendment for the grant program.
Source: Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners regular meeting, Nov. 10, 2026, official video with captions (opened Nov. 11); Hillsborough County meeting video archive; City of Tampa public records liaisons (lists Brad Baird as Infrastructure director) (opened Nov. 11).