GrayRobinson Government Affairs and Lobbying E-lert: September 1 Deadline - Resilient Florida Grant Program Applications

By: Chris Carmody, Shareholder | July 30, 2021

Recently, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection held a webinar to review the Florida Resilient Coastlines Program (FRCP) Resilience Grants available to counties, municipalities, water management districts, flood control districts, and regional resilience entities.

Among the grants available is a new program that was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis this past session as part of a comprehensive legislative package ensuring a coordinated approach to Florida’s coastal and inland resiliency.  This new grant program is the largest investment in Florida history to prepare communities for the impact of climate change, including sea level rise, intensified storms, and flooding.

Project proposals for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 are being accepted through the Resilient Florida Grant Portal until Wednesday, September 1, 2021.

Under s. 380.093 F.S., eligible applicants have the opportunity to receive funding assistance to analyze and plan for vulnerabilities (planning grants), as well as implement projects for adaptation and mitigation (implementation/adaption grants).

Covered under the planning grants are projects related to the Peril of Flood compliance, vulnerability assessments, and adaption/resilience plans. The funding for planning grants will come from the $20 million allotted by the Governor and Legislature in the state budget. No cost share is required, and project applications will be reviewed and ranked by staff.

Covered under the implementation/adaption grants are projects to adapt critical assets, including transportation assets and evacuation routes, critical infrastructure; critical community and emergency facilities; and natural, cultural, and historical resources. The funding for implementation/adaption grants will come from the $500 million allotted by the federal government under the American Rescue Plan Act. A 50 percent cost share is required, and project applications will be ranked based on their effectiveness to reduce and/or mitigate flooding using the four-tier system from subsection 5(h) of the statute.

To access the Resilient Florida Grant Portal and submit a project, you can visit the DEP’s FRCP Resilience Grants page. Here you will find all of the application documents you need for Fiscal Year 2021-2022, including eligibility criteria, project types, evaluation forms, templates, presentations, and resources.

Our government affairs and lobbying team is also here as a resource to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions or needs. For additional reference, you may contact Chris Carmody directly at Chris.Carmody@gray-robinson.com.