Revitalization Efforts Bring New Hope to Malone

By Shelia Mader

Nearly seven years after Hurricane Michael unleashed its devastating force on Jackson County, the town of Malone is steadily rising from the wreckage, thanks to a series of grant-funded revitalization projects. From long-awaited repairs to local businesses to community-enhancing park upgrades and critical infrastructure, Malone is breathing new life into spaces that have sat dormant since October 2018.

City Hall representative Amanda Hartensen shared several of the town’s major projects currently underway, many of which are the result of federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) secured specifically for Hurricane Michael recovery.

Among the most anticipated projects is a transformation of Johnny Williams Park. The town received a $600,000 CDBG grant to revamp the park, and according to Hartensen, the upgrades will appeal to all ages. “One item the residents are really excited about is a splash pad,” she said, noting that the project will also include renovations to the park’s restrooms and the addition of shaded coverings over playground equipment to protect children from the intense Florida sun.

In the heart of town, a $464,000 hometown revitalization grant is funding critical repairs to several local staples that have remained shuttered since the hurricane: People’s South Bank, Rene’s Hair Salon, and the Malone IGA grocery store. These structures were heavily damaged and rendered unusable, but their buildings are now being brought back to life.

“Now that we have the hometown revitalization grant, they can start on the grocery store, IGA, the hair place, and People’s South Bank,” Hartensen explained. “All have been closed since the hurricane.” She emphasized that the current work is focused on repairs and restoration, “not tear-downs”, and that visible progress has already begun. While the grant stipulates that property owners have a period of time that they cannot sell these properties however, they will be allowed to rent them out.

Another cornerstone of Malone’s recovery is the construction of a brand-new Volunteer Fire Department station, made possible by a $2 million CDBG disaster recovery grant. “They’re telling us by the end of the year, but we don’t have an exact date yet,” Hartensen said. The people of Malone are really excited about that because the citizens hold their department as the best there is and feel deserve a new and improved building.

The town also secured funding to repair its Public Works warehouse, which was completely destroyed during Hurricane Michael. Restoring this facility is essential to maintaining municipal services and preparing for future emergencies.

These ongoing projects represent more than just bricks and mortar; they symbolize Malone’s resilience, hope, and commitment to restoring the community. While the path to full recovery has been long, the signs of progress are now visible—and welcomed—throughout the town.

“We’ve been waiting since Hurricane Michael,” Hartensen said. “It feels really good to finally see things moving forward.”