NEWS BEAT

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) water quality grants portal opened July 5, 2023. Multiple grant opportunities are available to improve water quality in Florida, including the Innovative Technologies Grant Program. Local governments are encouraged to submit project proposals for this opportunity that evaluate and implement innovative technologies to predict, prevent, mitigate, and clean up harmful algal blooms. Since 2019, $80 million has been appropriated for over 40 innovative technology projects and for harmful algal bloom management and response. To submit a proposal or view a list of past grant awardees, visit ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov.

The request for proposals closes on Aug. 31, 2023.

The FDEP is also accepting grant applications through the Resilient Florida Grant Program for projects to prepare coastal and inland communities for the adverse impacts of flooding and storm surge, including proposals aimed at protecting critical assets, such as transportation and evacuation routes, critical infrastructure, critical community and emergency facilities, and natural, cultural, and historical resources.

Through a variety of grant opportunities, Florida’s communities can identify vulnerabilities and implement solutions to protect inland areas, coastlines, and shores. The online grant application portal opened July 1, 2023, and closes on Sept. 1, 2023.

Planning Grants

• Counties and municipalities are eligible for fully funded planning grants to promote resilience planning, including further assessment of vulnerabilities of critical assets and complying with the “Peril of Flood” statute, which helps to ensure that coastal communities will recover and move forward faster after natural disasters. Starting this year, water management districts are also eligible to receive planning grants to assist the Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation in addressing gaps in available data.

Implementation Grants

• Counties, municipalities, and special districts responsible for inlets, intracoastal waterways, ports, or other critical waterways are eligible to apply for projects that address risks of flooding or sea level rise identified in a local government vulnerability assessment. Water management districts, drainage districts, erosion control districts, flood control districts, and regional water supply authorities can propose projects that mitigate the risks of flooding or sea level rise on water supplies or water resources of the state. Eligible applicants in either category may receive 50 percent cost-share funding assistance to implement projects for adaptation and mitigation.

If not already completed, register for an account on the Resilient Florida application portal. If an account already exists, log in to access the application.

Additional information, important dates, and links to helpful webinars can be found on the Resilient Florida resources website.

Note that any information submitted to FDEP will become public record subject to disclosure in accordance with Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and Article 1 of the Florida Constitution. Submittal of a project proposal does not create an agreement, nor does it guarantee funding. All awards are contingent upon legislative appropriations. S