Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna will present $1.75 million in federal funding Monday to help the City of Clearwater begin construction on pump stations for its North Beach Stormwater Improvement Project.
The check presentation is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Marshall Street Water Treatment Plant, 1605 Harbor Drive in Clearwater. Luna will join Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector, City Manager Jennifer Poirrier, Vice Mayor Mike Mannino and other city officials.
The money will support the first phase of a broader stormwater plan designed to reduce repeated flooding in North Clearwater Beach, where residents and businesses have faced losses tied to severe storms and hurricanes, including Debby, Helene and Milton.
Clearwater completed a stormwater master plan in 2022 that identified several needed upgrades, including pump stations, larger pipes, improved roadway drainage, tidal valves and other system improvements. The new federal allocation will help move the city from planning into initial construction.
The North Beach Stormwater Improvement Project is expected to unfold in phases through 2030. The broader capital effort is estimated at $65 million to $90 million.
City materials describe the project as a response to aging infrastructure, higher tidal conditions and more frequent flooding. The first phase focuses on pump stations intended to provide faster relief while the city advances longer-term drainage and tidal control improvements.
The funding comes as coastal Pinellas communities continue to confront the cost of hardening basic infrastructure after recent storm seasons exposed weaknesses in drainage, wastewater and flood protection systems.
For Clearwater, the immediate goal is narrower and practical: move stormwater off vulnerable streets more effectively and reduce repetitive losses before the next major weather event tests the system again.