DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
NOTICE OF GRANT APPLICATION SUBMISSION PERIOD FOR FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE FLORIDA FOREVER PROGRAM
The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) will accept Fiscal Year 2020-21 grant applications, in accordance with Rule Chapters 62-818 and 62-819, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) from Local Governments and eligible Nonprofit Environmental Organizations for the acquisition of community-based projects, urban open spaces, parks and greenways to implement local government comprehensive plans pursuant to the Florida Forever Act, Section 259.105, Florida Statutes (F.S.), and the Florida Communities Trust (FCT) Act, Chapter 380, Part III, F.S.
APPLICATION SUBMISSION PERIOD: October 1, 2020 – December 15, 2020.
Applications will be accepted beginning on October 1, 2020, and must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on December 15, 2020. Applications must be received on or before the above stated deadline to be eligible for consideration. Applications received after the published deadline shall be deemed late and will not be considered.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Local Governments, Nonprofit Environmental Organizations, or a partnership between two local governments or a local government and nonprofit environmental organization.
MAXIMUM GRANT REQUEST: The Florida Legislature appropriated $10 million in funding for FCT projects effective July 1, 2020. Under the provisions of subsection 62-818.003(7), F.A.C., the total amount of any Award or combination of Awards applied for by any Local Government(s) or Nonprofit Environmental Organization(s) under any Application(s) or Partnership Application(s) for any project(s) shall not exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) during any one cycle. All award(s) for Partnership Applications shall, for purposes of calculation of award limitations, be divided equally among the Local Government(s) or Nonprofit Environmental Organization(s).
APPLICATION FORMS: Applications for funding must be made on Application Form FCT-5 following procedures outlined in subsection 62-818.003(1), F.A.C. Applicants must submit four (4) complete sets of Application materials. The Application Instructions Guide and Application Form FCT-5 for Fiscal Year 2020-21 submissions, as well as copies of the Rule Chapters may be obtained at https://floridadep.gov/lands/land-and-recreation-grants/content/fct-florida-communities-trust-home or you may contact FCT Staff via email FloridaCommunitiesTrust@floridadep.gov, by phone (850)245-2501, or U.S. Mail at Florida Communities Trust, Department of Environmental Protection, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS #115, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000.
APPLICATION WEBINAR: FCT staff will host a webinar to which all persons are invited.
DATE AND TIME: November 4, 2020, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Interested parties may participate via GoToMeeting. Please register IN ADVANCE at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4488411382795205902 for the 2020-2021 Florida Communities Trust Open Space Program Application Webinar to be held on November 4, 2020, 10:00 a.m. ET. Once meeting attendees have registered, they will receive a confirmation email from customercare@gotowebinar.com containing information about joining the webinar.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 3 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Linda Reeves, (850)245-2501. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800) 955-8770 (Voice).
