By STAFF REPORTS
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will launch on May 1 an online grant portal to provide eligible entities, including local governments, higher education entities, nonprofit organizations and for-profit organizations that receive state financial assistance, the opportunity to submit proposals that bolster existing efforts to protect and restore Florida’s water resources.
From May 1 – June 30, 2024, DEP is accepting project proposals for water-related grant programs for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals to all grant programs for which they may be eligible. The grant program follows a trend in Florida.
According to the Department, since taking office in 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis has secured record budgets for the state’s environment, including grant programs that serve communities and protect natural systems.
Grant opportunities include:
- Water Quality Implementation Grants, which help communities address wastewater (including septic-to-sewer), stormwater, agricultural and other projects to reduce nutrients in waterbodies. Grants include the Water Quality Improvement Grant, the Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvement Grant, the Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvement Grant and the Caloosahatchee Water Quality Improvement Grant.
- Alternative Water Supply Grants, whichhelp communities plan for and implement water conservation,reuse and other water supply and water resource development projects.
- Springs Restoration Grants, which can be used for land acquisition to protect springs and for capital projects that protect the quality and quantity of water that flows from springs. Eligible project types include agricultural best management practices, water conservation, hydrologic restoration, reuse, land acquisition, septic-to-sewer, wastewater treatment upgrades and stormwater treatment.
- Wetlands Restoration and Protection Grants, which help restore and protect wetlands.
- Innovative Technology for Harmful Algal Bloom Grants, which are for projects that evaluate and implement innovative technologies and short-term solutions to combat harmful algal blooms, restore and preserve Florida’s fresh waterbodies, or implement water quality treatment technologies.
- Local Government Water Supply Pilot Grants, which are for water supply infrastructure (including distribution and transmission facilities) in the Northwest Florida Regional Water Supply Planning Regions I or II. To be eligible, the project must be located within Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa or Walton County.
- Nonpoint Source Management Grants, which support eligible shovel-ready stormwater treatment projects that reduce or eliminate nonpoint source nutrient pollution in verified impaired waterbodies. Funding is also available for projects that implement nonpoint source pollution best managementpractices, public education programs to prevent pollution and septic abandonment/connection to sewer on private property.
- Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative Grants, which help establish, expand and maintain in-state propagation and grow-out facilities; develop and implement strategies and site-specific restoration plans including curriculum for a trained workforce; and reinforce and expand restoration efforts across Florida’s Coral Reef.
- Resilient Florida Planning Grants, which supports counties and municipalities with resilience planning efforts, including further assessment of vulnerabilities of critical assets and complying with the ”Peril of Flood” statute to ensure coastal communities recover and move forward faster after natural disasters.
To submit a proposal or view a list of past grant awardees, visit ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov.
