EATONVILLE, Fla. — Leaders, residents and business owners in the historic town of Eatonville are celebrating.

The town on Friday received $34.4 million in grant money for critical improvements in its drinking and wastewater system.

This grant is from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s State Revolving Fund.

“Our town infrastructure, as many across the country, is aging,” said Valerie Mundy, public works director for Eatonville. “We have our original piping in the ground, much of it, and some of that piping is for sewer systems clay, some of that piping for water systems may be cement.”

“Although they meet regulatory requirements, those types are very expensive to replace, and what it does is it continues to put a burden on our operations and maintenance over the years,” she continued.

It is not just town leaders that are excited about these upgrades. Local businesses owners are, too.

Kim Middleton, widely regarded as the queen of soul food, and her Eatonville restaurant Kook’n with Kim nearly always has a line out the door.

But whenever the town has problems with their water, she is forced to close down.

“I need this water, I do a lot of cooking, gotta have some water. Without water, we can’t open,” said Middleton. “Any simple thing that happens, I have to shut down because it’s against the law. I can not open.”

Last year, Spectrum News reported on the town being put on notice in prior years for failing to monitor contaminants and alert the public about certain water tests that were not completed.

Town leaders shared that in 2024, there were at least two service interruptions and boil water notices. There has been one boil water notice so far this year. It is frustrating for Middleton any time it leads to her turning customers away.

“It’s a little hard on me, but I manage,” said Middleton.

However, soon that could all change with the new grant. Eatonville Mayor Angie Gardner signed the agreement Friday for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program. According to Mundy, none of the money will have to be repaid.

“Those are dollars that are insurmountable for our small community so by having the opportunity, this doesn’t happen all the time, the special opportunity for 100% forgiveness we are able to invest without taking away from the operation budget of the community,” said Mundy.

As for Middleton, she is excited for the changes that are coming, hoping it will guide the future of the town and her business.

“We are all going to be happy around here, not just me, but the whole community will be happy,” said Middleton.

Mundy shared the engineering process is starting now and once that is in place, they expect to begin construction at the end of this year. They are aiming to have the project finished in 2027.