Face It, Fix It: Bradenton’s Commitment to Infrastructure

Provided by: City of Bradenton

You may have heard the City of Bradenton reference “Face It, Fix It” in recent years. What began as a focus on addressing aging wastewater infrastructure has grown into a broader and long-term commitment to improving and maintaining the systems residents rely on every day.

At its core, Face It, Fix It is about identifying infrastructure needs proactively rather than waiting for failures to occur. This includes wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater systems, roads, sidewalks, and other essential infrastructure that plays a critical role in daily life throughout the city.

Wastewater improvements have remained one of the City’s most significant areas of investment under Face It, Fix It. In March, City Council adopted a five-year, $159 million Wastewater Fiscal Initiative Plan that consolidates major projects aimed at maintaining and improving how wastewater is collected, treated, and reclaimed for beneficial reuse.

The plan helps organize and prioritize work already underway across Bradenton, including improvements to lift stations, pipelines, and treatment processes. It also outlines the next phase of investments focused on improving reliability and preparing our system for heavy rainfall and the years ahead.

Much of this work is not always visible to the public. Underground pipes, treatment systems, and drainage infrastructure rarely draw attention unless something goes wrong. But in a built-out coastal community like Bradenton, maintaining and modernizing aging systems is essential to protecting public health, local waterways, and quality of life.

A major focus of this initiative has also been securing outside funding to help move critical projects forward while limiting the impact on local ratepayers. To date, the City has secured more than $160 million in state and federal grants and appropriations to fund projects throughout Bradenton.

Face It, Fix It reflects the City of Bradenton’s long-term approach to addressing infrastructure needs today while preparing for future generations. Behind every project are City employees who are invested in this community and the people who call it home. That commitment drives everything we do.