COMMISSIONER WILTON SIMPSON ANNOUNCES $25M FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL WATER RESOURCE PROJECTS
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that applications are now being accepted for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Agricultural Regional Projects Program, a key initiative with $25 million in grant funding to support regional, collaborative agricultural water resource solutions that improve water quality and quantity.
“Protecting Florida’s water resources is essential to our state’s future — and Florida’s farmers, ranchers, and growers are central to that mission,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Through the Agricultural Regional Projects Program, we are building strong partnerships that can deliver real, science-based solutions to improve water quality and conserve our water supply.”
The Agricultural Regional Projects Program provides funding for projects that:
- Reduce nitrogen and phosphorus to meet or exceed water quality standards
- Improve water quality and quantity
- Promote innovative nutrient management technologies
- Align with Florida’s long-term agricultural sustainability goals
Eligible applicants include:
- Private landowners or entities
- Local governmental entities proposing to address nonpoint source pollution from agricultural activities
- Water management districts, soil and water conservation districts, educational institutions, or conservation groups
Applications for the program will be accepted until 5 p.m. EST on November 7, 2025. Full program guidelines, eligibility requirements and additional information can be found at FDACS.gov.
NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST AND PARTNERS HAVE PRESERVED MORE THAN 1,000 ACRES IN PUTNAM COUNTY
North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), in coordination with the Putnam Land Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, and the State of Florida, has been able to preserve a 1,086-acre property previously owned by Rayonier, Inc. The land is in Putnam County within the critical Ocala to Osceola (O2O) wildlife corridor near the Carl Duval Moore State Forest and Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway and within the Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway Florida Forever Project Area. The acquisition of the property from Rayonier resulted from a collaboration between the partners to ensure the land would remain natural forever.
NFLT and the Putnam Land Conservancy worked with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to fund the acquisition through the Florida Forever program. When the sellers needed the purchase to happen before the end of 2024, NFLT contacted The Conservation Fund, which purchased the property for $3.25 million and held title to the property until the State could complete the purchase.
FLORIDA RESILIENCE CONFERENCE DRAWS 600+ LEADERS TO CHARLOTTE HARBOR TO ADVANCE ADAPTATION AND ACTION
More than 600 elected officials, engineers, scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and community advocates gathered in Charlotte Harbor for the 4th Annual Florida Resilience Conference under the theme “Adapting Today, Powering Tomorrow!”
The three-day event, co-hosted by the Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association (FSBPA) and Resiliency Florida, highlighted the urgent need to safeguard Florida’s communities and natural resources in the face of stronger storms, sea-level rise, and mounting infrastructure challenges.
“This year’s theme was about taking action now,” said David Rathke, Executive Director of Resiliency Florida. “We’re not going to solve these challenges today, but we’re setting things in motion that will impact Florida for generations.”
EPA ANNOUNCES $48 MILLION FOR SOUTHEASTERN STATES TO REPAIR WATER SYSTEMS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENE
On Sept. 30, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $48 million in disaster relief supplemental funding to support water systems in southeastern states impacted by Hurricane Helene.
“These funds are on their way to communities working hard to rebuild and harden water systems damaged and, in some cases, wiped out by Hurricane Helene,” said EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “These funds, combined with funds already allocated, will allow communities to continue recovering from such a catastrophic weather event.”
North Carolina ($21 million), Florida ($17 million), Georgia ($6 million), South Carolina ($2 million) and Tennessee ($2 million) received funds.
These funds are part of $60 million nationally allocated through the American Relief Act of 2025 for projects necessary for preventing, limiting or mitigating an emergency situation.
In addition, EPA allocated almost $3 billion earlier this year through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs to repair and upgrade drinking water and wastewater systems to better withstand future natural disasters.
