Bradenton fast-tracks 20-year facility plans to secure $300m+ in federal utility funding

Bradenton fast-tracks 20-year facility plans to secure $300m+ in federal utility fundingThe Florida city has awarded Woodard & Curran $2.2 million in consulting contracts to draft comprehensive water and wastewater business plans, a critical requirement to unlock its massive waitlisted EPA appropriations.

City Council approved a $1.6 million contract for a wastewater facility plan and $600,000 for a drinking water plan with Woodard & Curran.

Bradenton has already received a preliminary award of over $53 million from the Supplemental Appropriation Helene Milton (SAHM) program.

The city is the largest waitlisted applicant for additional funding, seeking access to a $252 million pool to overhaul aging infrastructure.

The 20-year strategic plans are required to justify the federal funding and avoid relying on ratepayer increases to fund the capital program.

The Bradenton City Council approved two major planning agreements on June 10, 2026, mapping out a 20-year capital improvement strategy for its water and wastewater systems to capture hundreds of millions in federal and state funding. The contracts, awarded to engineering firm Woodard & Curran, include $1.6 million for a Water Reclamation Facility and Collection System Facilities Plan and $600,000 for a Water Treatment Plant and Distribution System Facilities Plan. The strategic plans are a strict requirement to unlock funding from the Supplemental Appropriation Helene Milton (SAHM), a pool of federal EPA money administered through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's State Revolving Fund (SRF). Bradenton has already received a preliminary award of more than $53 million but is eyeing a much larger prize. According to City Administrator Rob Perry, Bradenton is the largest waitlisted recipient for the infrastructure funding, with $252 million pending. The city's initial funding requests included $274 million for wastewater and $43 million for drinking water, though Woodard & Curran representatives noted the long-term drinking water program alone will likely require closer to $90 million. "This puts together a 20-year projection that has to consider population growth, different changes in the community... you have to make a compelling case for that money," Perry told the council. "That has never been done in my review and experience with the city of Bradenton." Speed is a critical factor in the procurement. Scott Shannon, Senior Vice President at Woodard & Curran, warned the council that the schedules associated with the federal planning, design, and construction phases are highly compressed. Developing the facility plans quickly is essential to justify the eligibility for the grant and principal forgiveness funds before federal deadlines expire. Securing the federal and state money is viewed as a necessary step to protect residents from severe utility rate hikes. City officials noted that funding the massive capital overhaul solely through enterprise revenues would be unsustainable, adopting a policy position that utility rates must remain the "funding source of last resort."