LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — This autumn has required repair work and scheduling flexibility at the city-owned RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

“We would tell somebody ‘this room’s not available, we have some damage there. Can you move here?’” said Cindy Collins, executive director of RP Funding Center.

Collins said cancellations have been at a minimum after Hurricane Milton damaged the roof at Polk County’s largest event center in early October.

“This facility itself brings in almost $80 million in economic impact,” Collins said. “You may not realize that but when people are staying in beds, buying gas, shopping, eating in restaurants, that adds up. So it’s very important.”

“We’re in the final phase of putting our north side of our arena back together,” said Peter Caruso, RP Funding Center’s operations manager.

Strong winds from the hurricane caused a sizable portion of the roof to be damaged.

“Not only does the roof pull up, but it takes the drainage system right with it so the rain was just coming directly down on the floor,” Caruso said.

Insulation and ducts had to be dried out and replaced, with much of the work done by Synergy NDS.

That work is now finishing up with ceiling still exposed in some areas.

The roof is temporarily replaced.

The city of Lakeland just finished a permanent fix to the RP Funding Center’s roof in May from damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022.

“We submitted that deductible to FEMA for $629,000,” Lakeland finance director Mike Brossart said. “FEMA won’t do two deductibles on the same facility.”

On Monday, the Lakeland City Commission approved the use of $1.1 million in American Rescue Plan funding to pay for the insurance deductible for the new damage from Hurricane Milton.

“I think that is a wonderful solution and utilizes the moneys well,” Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz said.