Community Project Funding allows certain federal funds to be directed toward a state, locality, or eligible nonprofit serving a Congressional district through the appropriations process.
The projects that Representative Anna Paulina Luna submitted on behalf of Florida’s Thirteenth Congressional District are listed below.
FY-27:
Project Name: St. Petersburg Police Department Real Time Intelligence Center
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Intended Recipient: City of St. Petersburg
Project Location: 1301 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33705
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 175 5th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Explanation of the Request: The City of St. Petersburg is developing a Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) to enhance crime prevention efforts, strengthen investigative capabilities, and improve real-time coordination across public safety partners. The RTIC integrates strategically placed cameras in public spaces throughout the city with advanced analytic tools, monitoring equipment, and secure information-sharing platforms. Once fully operational, the system will allow law enforcement to identify criminal activity in progress, deploy resources more efficiently, develop timely investigative leads, and protect critical infrastructure. This funding will support completion and expansion of the RTIC infrastructure, including installation of a video wall for centralized situational awareness, Crestron controllers at all workstations, Axon license plate reader trailers and poles, additional cameras throughout the city, AI processing cores for regional data sharing, and a bucket truck for ongoing installation and maintenance. Location build-out has commenced and baseline hardware has been purchased, but full technological integration and system expansion remain incomplete due to funding constraints. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it directly supports homeland security priorities by improving real-time situational awareness and regional law enforcement coordination, protecting the residents, visitors, and businesses of Florida’s 13th Congressional District.
Project Name: Pass-a-Grille Way Seawall Improvements
Requested Amount: $8,000,000
Intended Recipient: City of St. Pete Beach, Pinellas County
Project Location: City-wide / 155 Corey Ave, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 155 Corey Ave, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Explanation of the Request: St. Pete Beach’s Pass-a-Grille Way corridor experiences chronic tidal and stormwater flooding that threatens roads, homes, and essential public infrastructure. This funding will support raising approximately 1.86 miles of seawall to an elevation of 5 feet NAVD88, installing six tidal check valves, and constructing six stormwater pump stations to reduce tidal and rainfall-driven flooding. The plan also consolidates stormwater outfalls to improve system efficiency and reduce long-term costs. These improvements will protect roadway access, private property, and critical infrastructure, while reducing long-term disaster recovery costs and supporting the economic stability of Florida’s 13th Congressional District. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it focuses on proactive infrastructure improvements that directly reduce flooding damage, emergency response costs, and future federal disaster assistance needs.
Project Name: Pinellas County North Booster Pump Station
Requested Amount: $10,575,750
Project Location: 315 Court Street, Suite 601 Clearwater, FL 33756
Intended Recipient: Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 15 Court Street, Suite 601., Clearwater, FL 33756
Explanation: The funding would be used to construct a hardened, Category 5–resistant structure around an existing water booster station to protect critical equipment from wind, flooding, and power outages during severe storms. The project will improve system resiliency, maintain consistent water pressure, and ensure reliable delivery of drinking water and fire protection services. These upgrades will strengthen infrastructure performance, support emergency response capabilities, and protect public health and safety.
Project Name: Starkey Road Flood Mitigation Project
Requested Amount: $4,200,000
Intended Recipient: City of Largo, Pinellas County
Project Location: Starkey Road Basin, Largo, Florida
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 201 Highland Ave N, Largo, FL 33770
Explanation of the Request: The Starkey Road Basin in Largo has endured repeated flooding damage to homes and businesses, most recently from Hurricane Milton, caused by undersized culverts, inadequate drainage ditches, and insufficient stormwater conveyance infrastructure. The Starkey Road Basin Watershed Management Plan, completed in 2012, identified targeted improvements to address these deficiencies. This funding will support construction of stormwater improvements within the Starkey Road Basin, including culvert and ditch upgrades at Starkey Road and Lake Palms Drive on Channel 10, installation of new storm pipe and structures between the Dahlia Place and Gardenia Place roadway cul-de-sacs, and regrading of the south-flowing tributary ditch to restore a positive drainage connection to Channel 10. The project is predicted to significantly reduce road flooding and eliminate structure flooding within the affected areas. Additionally, the flood mitigation improvements will reduce sediment, debris, nutrients, toxic materials, and pathogens carried into connecting channels and waterways, resulting in critical water quality benefits for Long Bayou. The City of Largo will provide a required 25% local match from its stormwater fund. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it implements sustainable, cost-effective measures designed to reduce the risk to individuals and property from future natural hazards while reducing reliance on federal disaster recovery funding.
Project Name: Lift Station Rehab Program
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Project Location: 5 sites throughout the City of Clearwater, FL.
Intended Recipient: City of Clearwater
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: One Clearwater Tower, 6th Floor, 600Cleveland St., Clearwater, FL 33756
Explanation: The funding would be used to rehabilitate and upgrade aging wastewater infrastructure, including the construction and refurbishment of five lift stations throughout the city. The project will address structural, mechanical, and electrical deficiencies identified through a comprehensive third-party assessment to restore the facilities to a like-new condition. These improvements will enhance system reliability, ensure the continued operation of essential wastewater infrastructure, and prevent sanitary sewer overflows, protecting public health and surrounding water bodies.
Project Name: Oakleaf and Mapleleaf Drainage Improvements
Requested Amount: $4,000,000.
Project Location: City of Oldsmar in Pinellas County, Florida
Intended Recipient: Army corps of engineers.
Explanation: The funding would support a flood risk reduction project to increase stormwater conveyance capacity, reduce roadway overtopping, and mitigate repetitive flooding to residential properties. The project will include upsizing stormwater conveyance systems, drainage enhancements, and related infrastructure upgrades designed to reduce flood risk during heavy rainfall events. This investment will strengthen stormwater infrastructure, enhance community resilience, and help prevent costly flood damages to homes and roadways.
Project Name: Beckett Bridge Replacement
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Intended Recipient: Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
Project Location: Tarpon Springs, Florida / Whitcomb Bayou
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Explanation of the Request: The existing Beckett Bridge over Whitcomb Bayou in Tarpon Springs is functionally obsolete and posted for restricted loads, currently barring full access by emergency vehicles, school buses, and garbage trucks. The bridge foundations have a long history of vertical settlement and horizontal movement requiring frequent costly repairs, and its sidewalks — only 2’2″ wide — do not meet ADA requirements. This funding will support replacement of the existing bridge with a new low-level bascule bridge featuring two 10-foot travel lanes, shoulders, and 6.5-foot sidewalks on both sides to improve pedestrian and vehicle access. The replacement will restore full access for all vehicles, eliminate the need for repeated emergency repairs, and serve as a critical evacuation route for the surrounding neighborhood. The $5,000,000 federal request will be matched by $35,000,000 in state and local funds already committed to the project.
Project Name: City of Clearwater Back-Up Emergency Power for Lift Stations
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Intended Recipient: City of Clearwater
Project Location: 78 lift station sites throughout the City of Clearwater, FL
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: One Clearwater Tower, 6th Floor, 600 Cleveland St., Clearwater, FL 33755
Explanation of the Request: Clearwater’s lift stations are vulnerable to power outages during hurricanes and major storms, as demonstrated during the back-to-back hurricanes of 2024. Without backup power, lift station failures lead to widespread sewage backups that threaten public health and cause significant damage to private property. This funding will support the purchase and installation of standardized generator connection boxes for 78 lift stations throughout the City of Clearwater, providing reliable backup power to prevent sewage system failures immediately following a natural disaster. The project directly safeguards over 117,000 residents, as well as the city’s vital tourism population, from the public health risks and property damage associated with sewage backups during storm-related power outages. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it is a cost-effective preventive measure that protects public health infrastructure and avoids far more expensive disaster recovery and remediation costs.
Project Name: Additional Reclaimed Water Storage Tank
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Project Location: City of Oldsmar in Pinellas County, Florida,
Intended Recipient: Army Corps of engineers
Explanation: The funding would support a water reuse infrastructure project to improve reclaimed water storage capacity, enhance water conservation efficiency, and reduce nutrient discharge to Tampa Bay. The project will include expanding storage systems, infrastructure upgrades, and related improvements to capture additional treated water during heavy rainfall events when production exceeds demand. This investment will strengthen water reuse infrastructure, enhance environmental protection, and help prevent costly nutrient loading impacts.
Project Name: Oberly Generator Replacement
Requested Amount: $3,000,000
Project Location: 6198 66th Ave N., Pinellas Park, FL 33781
Intended Recipient: City of Saint Petersburg Water Resources Department
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 175 5th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Explanation: The funding would be used to replace an aging emergency generator to ensure uninterrupted operation of the City of St. Petersburg’s water system during power outages and severe weather events. This project will improve system reliability and protect public health by maintaining continuous water services. It will also enhance staff safety by improving access to the generator and upgrading critical power transfer equipment.
Project Name: Pinellas Park Interceptor Collection System
Requested Amount: $12,500,000
Project Location: 7401 54th Ave. N., St Petersburg, FL 33709
Intended Recipient: Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 315 Court Street, Suite 601, Clearwater, FL 33756
Explanation: The funding would be used to rehabilitate and upgrade aging wastewater infrastructure, including installing liners in an existing sewer interceptor, constructing a parallel sanitary sewer force main to manage wet weather flows, upgrading a lift station, replacing outdated force mains, and installing flow monitoring equipment. These improvements will enhance system capacity and reliability, prevent sanitary sewer overflows, and protect public health and surrounding water bodies.
Project Name: Gulf Winds Drive Roadway Reconstruction
Requested Amount: $6,000,000
Intended Recipient: City of St. Pete Beach, Pinellas County
Project Location: Gulf Winds Drive, St. Pete Beach, Florida
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 155 Corey Ave, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Explanation of the Request: Gulf Winds Drive in St. Pete Beach has pavement in poor condition and aging reclaimed water services that frequently break and leak, indicating the infrastructure has exceeded its useful life. This funding will support full roadway reconstruction including pavement base restoration, asphalt paving, curb and sidewalk replacement, signage, and striping, coordinated with Duke Energy’s electrical undergrounding efforts and planned improvements to Pinellas County’s water and reclaimed water mains. The project addresses failing roadway and utility infrastructure, improves public safety and pedestrian access, and reduces long-term maintenance costs for the community. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because investing in comprehensive infrastructure reconstruction now prevents more costly emergency repairs and repeated maintenance expenditures in the future.
Project Name: Bear Creek Resiliency Improvements
Requested Amount: $4,000,000
Intended Recipient: City of St. Petersburg
Project Location: 1st Avenue North and 58th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 175 5th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Explanation of the Request: The intersection of 58th Street North and 1st Avenue North, along with surrounding residential areas in St. Petersburg, experiences recurring flooding during relatively minor storm events due to limited stormwater conveyance capacity and inadequate drainage infrastructure. This funding will support improvements to the stormwater conveyance system and enhanced stormwater management features within Bear Creek Park, increasing the system’s capacity to convey and store stormwater runoff during storm events. The project will reduce the frequency and severity of roadway and neighborhood flooding while also providing additional treatment of stormwater prior to discharge to Bear Creek and ultimately to Tampa Bay. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it reduces the risk of loss of property and life during wet-weather events, decreasing the need for federal funds in the disaster recovery process.
Project Name: 45th Avenue Stormwater Pump Station Improvements
Requested Amount: $6,000,000
Intended Recipient: City of St. Pete Beach, Pinellas County
Project Location: 45th Avenue and Lido Drive corridor, St. Pete Beach, Florida
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 155 Corey Ave, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Explanation of the Request: Areas along 45th Avenue and Lido Drive in St. Pete Beach experience recurring flooding during heavy rainfall and storm events that damages infrastructure, disrupts transportation access, and threatens nearby homes and businesses. This funding will support upgrades to stormwater pipes, outfalls, detention and retention basins, and water quality features, as well as construction of a new stormwater pump station serving the corridor from Lido Drive to Plaza Way along Lido Drive and 45th Avenue. These proactive improvements will improve drainage capacity, reduce the risk of roadway and neighborhood flooding, and improve water quality through modern stormwater management practices. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will reduce long-term costs associated with flood damage, emergency response, and disaster recovery.
Project Name: East Lake Road Planning, Engineering, and Design
Requested Amount: $8,000,000
Intended Recipient: Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
Project Location: East Lake Road (County Road 611), 9.3-mile section from south of Curlew Road to north of Trinity Boulevard, Pinellas County, Florida
Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Explanation of the Request: East Lake Road carries significant regional traffic volumes but has inadequate capacity, a failing Level of Service during peak periods, and a disproportionately high number of crashes including fatal and serious injury collisions. This funding will support a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to evaluate proposed improvements along the 9.3-mile section of East Lake Road from south of Curlew Road to north of Trinity Boulevard, including widening the road from four lanes to six lanes and enhancing major intersections to address capacity, traffic operations, and safety conditions. The federal request represents 80% of total eligible project costs and will be matched by $1,997,600 in local Penny for Pinellas funds, with planning and design ready to begin upon receipt of funding. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because improving this high-crash, high-congestion corridor will enhance safety, reduce economic losses from congestion, and lay the groundwork for a capital improvement that will serve the region for decades.