Grants/Contracts

FloridaCommerce provides communities hosting military installations three different grant programs in which to apply for funds.

These grants are designed to make the installation and its surrounding community an attractive partner to the Department of Defense to keep current military missions in Florida. Alternatively, a community can also use one of the grants below to look at ways of diversifying its economy so not to depend on a military installation as its primary economic driver.

Defense Infrastructure Grant

Governed by section 288.980(5), Florida Statutes, the Defense Infrastructure Grant (DIG) Program was created to support local infrastructure projects deemed to have a positive impact on the military value of installations within the state. Funds are used for projects that benefit both the local community and the military installation. Infrastructure projects to be funded under this program include, but are not limited to, those related to:

• Encroachment
• Transportation and access
• Utilities
• Communications
• Housing
• Environment
• Security

Grant requests will be accepted only from economic development applicants serving in the official capacity of a governing board of a county, municipality, special district, or state agency that will have the authority to maintain the project upon completion. Applicants must represent a community or county in which a military installation is located. A match by the county or local community may be required. The program may not be used to fund on-base military construction projects. The department shall establish guidelines to implement the purpose of this subsection.

Defense Reinvestment Grant

Governed section 288.980(4), Florida Statutes, the Florida Defense Reinvestment Grant (DRG) Program was established to respond to the need for the state to work in conjunction with defense-dependent communities in developing and implementing strategies and approaches that will help communities support the missions of military installations, and in developing and implementing alternative economic diversification strategies to transition from a defense economy to a nondefense economy. Eligible applicants include defense-dependent counties and cities, and local economic development councils located within such communities. The program is administered by FloridaCommerce, with grant awards provided to support community-based activities that:

• Protect existing military installations
• Diversify the economy of a defense-dependent community
• Develop plans for the reuse of closed or realigned military installations, including any plans necessary for infrastructure improvements needed to facilitate reuse and related marketing activities

Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant

The Florida Defense Support Task Force offers grants for:

• Economic and product research and development
• Joint planning
• Advocacy
• Assistance to school districts
• Job training and placement
• Promotion of the state