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Division of Housing and Community Development

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Florida Communities Trust - Funding Resources For Park Development

Program Home | Introduction | Florida Forever Grant Program | Technical Assistance | Program Contacts

The following is a list of potential funding sources available to local governments, and eligible nonprofit organizations,
to assist in the development of park facilities, natural resource protection, restoration and enhancement projects, and
environmental education programs. Additional information and application deadlines can be found on the website listed
or by contacting the program directly.

Other Programs at the Florida Department of Community Affairs

Community Development Block Grant Program - The Community Development Block Grant Program is a grant program that provides funding for community development and is administered by the Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Development. Examples of activities that are eligible for funding include: parks and recreation; drainage improvements; downtown revitalization; Brownfields Economic Development Incentive; rehabilitation and preservation of housing; water and sewer improvements; street improvements; and economic development activities.

Waterfronts Florida Partnership Program - The Waterfronts Florida Partnership helps participating communities revitalize, renew and promote interest in their waterfront district. Waterfront revitalization targets environmental resource protection, public access, retention of viable traditional waterfront economies, and hazard mitigation. To be considered for designation, communities should have a coastal waterfront with a tradition of a water-oriented economy, and a targeted waterfront area that is not a major deep water port. The Program accepts applications for designation every two years.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program - The Florida Recreation Development Assistance is a competitive program that provides grants for acquisition or development of land to facilitate public outdoor recreation use or to construct or renovate recreational trails.

Land and Water Conservation Fund Program - The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a competitive program that provides grants for acquisition or development of land for public outdoor recreation use.

Office of Greenways and Trails - The Department of Environmental Protections' Office of Greenways and Trails Land Acquisition program is a component of Florida Forever. The program provides funding for the acquisition of projects that help establish Florida's statewide network of greenways and trails.

Recreational Trails Program - The Recreational Trails program is a competitive program that awards grants for projects that provide, renovate or maintain recreational trails, trailhead and trailside facilities. Project proposals may address the following recreational trail interests: motorized trails; nonmotorized trails; and mixed-use projects.

Coastal Partnerships Initiative Grants - The Florida Coastal Management Program provides financial support to local governments and non-profit organizations for projects that benefit, revitalize and provide access to coastal resources. Selected projects plan or implement activities in four program areas: public access, remarkable coastal places, working waterfronts, and community stewardship. The annual solicitation for Coastal Partnership Initiative proposals is published in the Florida Administrative Weekly each September or October.

Invasive Plant Management Reimbursement Program - The Department of Environmental Protection's Invasive Upland Plant Removal Program provides approximately $9 million annually for upland invasive plant removal projects on public conservation lands recognized by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory.

319(h) Non-Point Source Stormwater Management Grant - The Nonpoint Source Management Section provides grant funds that can be used to implement projects or programs that will help to reduce nonpoint sources of pollution. Projects or programs must be conducted within the state's Nonpoint Source priority watersheds, which are the state's Surface Water Improvement and Management watersheds and National Estuary Program waters.

Total Maximum Daily Load Water Quality Restoration Grants - The program receives funding for the implementation of projects to reduce urban nonpoint source pollution discharged to impaired waters. These funds are restricted to projects that reduce pollutant loadings to water bodies. These funds primarily are used for stormwater retrofitting projects undertaken by local governments.

Florida's Clean Marina Program - The aim of the Clean Marina Program is to protect and enhance water quality. Common elements of the program are: voluntary participation, "pier" pressure, a desire to engage in environmentally conscious activities and reinforcement of current regulatory processes. The program provides opportunities for public and private interaction and provides incentives and remove institutional roadblocks to enhance water quality at marinas.

Clean Vessel Act Program - The Federal Clean Vessel Act of 1992 provides funds for the construction of pumpout, dump station facilities and pumpout vessels, and supports educational, outreach and public awareness programs. Funds are available to applicants whose facilities are located on navigable fresh or salt-water bodies within the State of Florida who service recreational vessels. Eligible participants can include public and private operators of facilities such as boat ramps, marinas, and dock slips that provide public access.

Florida Beach Erosion Control Program - The Florida Beach Erosion Control Program works in concert with local, state, and federal governmental entities to protect, preserve, and restore the coastal sandy beach resources of the state. Under the program, financial assistance in an amount up to 50 percent of project costs is available to Florida's county and municipal governments, community development districts, or special taxing districts for shore protection and preservation activities on the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, or Straits of Florida.

Water Management Districts

Florida's five Water Management Districts conduct land acquisition programs under the Florida Forever Act to help acquire lands to restore, preserve and manage water resources. Water Management District acquisition efforts are generally focused on medium- to large-size parcels that protect wetlands and adjacent water bodies.

• South Florida Water Management District
• Southwest Florida Water Management District
• St. Johns River Water Management District
• Suwannee River Water Management District
• Northwest Florida Water Management District

Florida Department of Forestry

Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program - The Urban and Community Forestry Matching Grant Program provides funds to organizations to develop or enhance their urban and community forestry programs. Awards are made as matching grants to local governments, educational institutions, Native American tribal governments, and legally organized nonprofit organizations in five grant categories: local government program development; demonstration or site specific projects; nonprofit administration; information and education and; urban forestry training.

Forest Legacy Program - The program's focus is to protect environmentally important forest areas that are threatened by conversion to non forest uses and, through the use of voluntary conservation easements and fee simple purchases, to promote forest land protection and other conservation opportunities.

Florida Statewide Endangered and Threatened Plant Conservation Program - The Florida Plant Conservation Program works toward the recovery of federally-listed endangered and threatened plant species in Florida. The goal of the program is to restore and maintain existing populations of listed plants on public land and on private lands managed for conservation purposes.

Rural Development Program - The Rural Development Program provides rural communities with technical assistance to design and develop forest-based projects and acts as a liaison between communities and the various organizations that provide financial and in-kind support for rural development projects.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Nongame Wildlife Grant Program - The Nongame Wildlife Grants Program provides funding for research, management, and education projects that benefit Florida's nongame wildlife species. General grants are awarded in broadly defined areas. To register with the program for prequalification or to receive Request for Proposals, contact the program for more information.

State Wildlife Grant Program - The Florida's State Wildlife Grants Program is a matching grant program that provides financial support for projects that address conservation needs identified in the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Florida's State Wildlife grants are awarded to eligible recipients on a competitive basis. A new grant cycle opens in the fall of each year.

Florida Boating Improvement Program - The Florida Boating Improvement Program provides funding through competitive grants for boating access projects and other boating-related activities on coastal and/or inland waters of Florida. Eligible program participants include county governments, municipalities and other governmental entities of the State of Florida. Application cycle opens in February. Contact the program for the specific date.

Florida Department of State

Historic Preservation Grant Program - The purpose of this program is to assist in the identification, excavation, protection, and rehabilitation of historic and archaeological sites in Florida. The grant funds are available to support both acquisition and development and survey and planning activities. The annual grant cycle begins on October 1 and ends December 15.

Historical Museums Grant Program - This program awards $1.75 million annually to assist historical institutions with program expenses and with the development of exhibits relating to Florida history. Funding is provided for two categories: general program support and public educational exhibit projects. Beginning in October, the Florida Department of State solicits applications for grants-in-aid assistance for historical museums and exhibit projects.

Special Category Grants - The purpose of the Special Category Grants program is to provide assistance for major archaeological excavations, large restoration projects, major museum exhibits and presentations of information on the history of Florida. The application period begins on April 1 of each year and ends on May 31.

Florida Department of Transportation

Transportation Enhancement Program - The following 12 activities are eligible for funding under the Transportation Enhancement Program: facilities for pedestrians and bicycles; safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists; acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites; scenic or historic highway programs; landscaping and other scenic beautification; historic preservation, rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities; preservation of abandoned railway corridors; control and removal of outdoor advertising; archaeological planning and research; environmental mitigation, and; transportation museums. The program is not a grant program, rather projects are undertaken by project sponsors, and eligible costs are reimbursed.

Florida Inland Navigation District (East Coast)

Waterway Assistance Program - The Florida Inland Navigation District provides grants to local governments for projects that include: shoreline stabilization; waterway related recreation; environmental education; boating safety; inlet management; dredged material management; and public navigation. Waterway related projects must be located on natural, navigable waterways within the District. Applications are due April 1. Eligible local government agencies are notified each year by the first of January.

Cooperative Assistance Program - The Florida Inland Navigation District provides grants to local governments for eligible waterway related projects that include the following: shoreline stabilization; waterway related recreation; environmental education; boating safety; inlet management; dredged material management; and public navigation. Waterway related projects must be located on natural, navigable waterways within the District. There is no limitation on the amount funding that may be requested.

West Coast Inland Navigation District (Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee Counties only)

Waterway Development Program - The West Coast Inland Navigational District provides grants to local governments for projects that include: shoreline stabilization; waterway related recreation; environmental education; boating safety; inlet management; dredged material management; and public navigation. Waterway related projects must be located on natural, navigable waterways within Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee Counties only.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program - Under the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides matching grants for acquisition, restoration, management or enhancement of coastal wetlands.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act - The Standard Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships and must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats.

Small Grants Program - The Small Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds. Funding priority is given to grantees or partners new to the Act's Grants Program.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers a variety of natural resource assistance grants to governmental, public and private organizations, groups and individuals.

U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service

Watershed Protection, Watershed Surveys, and Flood Prevention - The purpose of the Watershed Program, including River Basin operations, is to assist Federal, State, local agencies, local government sponsors, tribal governments, and program participants to protect and restore watersheds from damage caused by erosion, floodwater, and sediment, to conserve and develop water and land resources, and solve natural resource and related economic problems on a watershed basis. The program provides technical and financial assistance to local people or project sponsors, builds partnerships, and requires local and state funding contribution.

The Conservation Fund

Kodak American Greenways Awards Program - The Kodak American Greenways Awards Program, a partnership project of the Eastman Kodak Company, The Conservation Fund, and the National Geographic Society, provides small grants to stimulate the planning and design of greenways in communities throughout America. Grants may be used for activities such as: mapping, ecological assessments, surveying, conferences, and design activities; developing brochures, interpretative displays, audio-visual productions or public opinion surveys; hiring consultants, incorporating land trusts, building a foot bridge, planning a bike path, or other creative projects. Applications may be submitted from March 1 through June 1 of each calendar year.

Additional Florida Grant Resources

Catalog of State Financial Assistance - The Catalog of State Financial Assistance is a statewide compendium of state projects that provide financial assistance to non-state entities. As the basic reference source for state projects, the primary purpose of the Catalog is to assist users obtaining general information on state projects and identifying state projects that meet specific objectives. State projects are cataloged by agency and are assigned a Catalog of State Financial Assistance number for easy referencing.

The Florida Resource Directory - The Florida Resource Directory contains information about the latest state and many federal programs and resources available to local communities. The Directory provides information and contacts for many types of projects such as building a community park, infrastructure, housing, health services, training, and small business and tourism development assistance.

Florida League of Cities - Financial and Technical Assistance for Florida Municipalities is a 346-page resource book that provides information on grants, loans, technical assistance and other resources available to Florida municipalities. The current edition is available in print and online.

Additional Land Acquisition Programs - Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of State Lands
The Division of State Lands acquires lands for conservation and environmental protection. State Lands is allocated $105 million of Florida Forever funds on an annual basis.