LARGO, Fla. — Local officials and community members gathered in Largo on Wednesday to cut the ribbon on a brand-new house, marking the first completed residential rebuild under the Pinellas Recovers program.
The homeowner, Melissa Arledge, saw her longtime property nearly ruined when Hurricane Milton swept through the region nearly two years ago. After gaining approval through the county’s recovery initiative, construction moved quickly, allowing her to move into the newly built structure in just a few months.
“I wake up in the mornings and actually look out the window because it’s like I’m in someone else’s home until I see, oh, it’s on my property. It must be mine!” Arledge said. “This has been the best, best blessing that I could have ever received.”
The milestone arrives as the countywide program surpasses 1,000 approved households for storm-related assistance.
“Today we’re here to celebrate the resilience of Pinellas County’s people,” Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott said at the ceremony. “Residents like Melissa can attest that persevering through the recovery process isn’t easy, but the patience truly does pay off.”
Scott was joined at the ribbon-cutting event by County Commissioners Chris Latvala and Rene Flowers, County Administrator Barry A. Burton, Largo City Commissioner Michael DiBrizzi, and Largo City Manager John Curp.
Funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program, the Pinellas Recovers People First initiative helps residents repair or rebuild properties damaged during the 2023 and 2024 hurricane seasons. The Home Rehabilitation and Reconstruction branch provides up to $375,000 per project to bring storm-damaged properties up to current building codes or fully replace them.
Dozens of additional single-family and mobile home replacements are currently under construction across the county.
Pinellas County is also accepting applications for a reimbursement program covering storm repairs homeowners have already paid for out of pocket, as well as a landlord assistance program. Under the landlord track, property owners can receive funding to fix or replace rental units if they agree to lease them at affordable rates for five years.
The program serves all eligible Pinellas County residents except those living within the city limits of St. Petersburg, which manages its own separate disaster recovery grant.
Residents can check eligibility requirements and apply online at recover.pinellas.gov. In-person applications are accepted weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2600 McCormick Drive, Suite 100, in Clearwater, and at 5000 Park Street, Suite 4, in St. Petersburg. Case managers can also be reached by phone at 727-606-3307 during regular business hours.
While most of the federal grant focuses on housing recovery, county officials stated that upcoming funding rounds will assist local small businesses, nonprofits, and public infrastructure projects.
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