1. Overview of State Resources
July 23, 2019

2. Florida DEO State Resources
I. Division of Community Development
Community Grants and Loans
Community Planning
Low-Income Households
II. Office of Disaster Recovery
Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery
Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan
III. Office of Partnership Engagement
Florida Job Growth Grant Fund

3. I. Division of Community Development Resources
Community Grants and Loans
Rural Infrastructure Fund Grant
Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund
Regional Rural Development Grant Program (RRDG)
Community Planning
Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant
The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI)
Competitive Florida Partnership Program
Low-Income Households
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

4. Community Grants and Loans
Rural Infrastructure Fund Grant
Funds planning, preparation and financing of infrastructure projects in rural communities.
Results in job creation, capital investment and the strengthening and diversification of rural economies.
Eligibility:
A city with a population of less than 50,000 or a county with a population of less than 200,000 in the unincorporated areas
Does not receive CDBG funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

5. Community Grants and Loans (continued)
Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Funds economic activities, infrastructure improvements and housing rehabilitation to benefit low- and moderate-income individuals.
Projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
Wastewater and storm water improvements;
Road improvements;
Rehabilitation of substandard housing;
Downtown revitalization; and
Park facilities and other projects for public benefit.
Eligibility:
A unit of local government in a designated rural county; or
An economic development organization substantially underwritten by a unit of local government within a rural county, with the ability to repay the loans, or compensate for the guarantees and reserves.

6. Community Grants and Loans (continued)
Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund
Funds financial assistance in the form of either a loan or loan guarantee for a specific project.
Results in the creation of new jobs and maintains or increases the economic vitality of rural counties.
Eligibility:
A unit of local government in a designated rural county; or
An economic development organization substantially underwritten by a unit of local government within a rural county, with the ability to repay the loans, or compensate for the guarantees and reserves.

7. Community Grants and Loans (continued)
Regional Rural Development Grant Program (RRDG)
Funds the building of skills and knowledge of the economic and tourism development representatives in the area being served.
Eligibility:
A regional organization formed by two or more designated rural counties that is actively engaged in economic or tourism development.
Must be matched each year by an equivalent amount of non-state resources.

8. Community Planning Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant
Funds assistance to meet the requirements of the Community Planning Act, addressing critical local planning issues and promoting innovative planning solutions.
Special consideration is given to:
Rural local governments, including rural local governments in an urban county.
Innovative planning proposals that could be used by other local governments in the state.
Regional projects (those that benefit more than one local government).
Eligibility:
Local governments
Regional planning councils

9. Community Planning (continued)
The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI)
Involves more than 17 state and regional agencies and organizations that help rural communities solve problems to improve the fiscal and economic outlook of their community.
Two primary objectives of REDI are to:
Be responsive to the communities’ issues, questions, needs and objectives.
Deliver the best possible service to rural communities by coordinating the work of state agencies and other organizations.
Eligibility: Rural Communities as defined under section , Florida Statutes.

10. Community Planning (continued)
Competitive Florida Partnership Program
Funds the creation and implementation of economic development strategies in communities, based on assets that make them unique.
State Fiscal Year (SFY) Budget $280,000.
SFY Competitive Florida communities:
Crestview
Fort Meade
LaBelle
Midway
Okeechobee
Panacea.

11. Low-Income Household Grants
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program
Federal funds to assist eligible low-income households in attaining the skills, knowledge and motivation necessary to achieve self-sufficiency.
Eligible agencies may provide a variety of anti-poverty services: emergency healthcare, food, housing, financial management assistance, nutrition programs, community gardening projects, food banks, job counseling, placement and training services, homeless prevention programs, daycare and transportation assistance.
Eligibility:
Local governments and Community Action Agencies.
Applicants must apply for assistance with the local CSBG provider for their county and must provide proof of household income.
CSBG Success Story
A young woman living in Gadsden County recently separated from her husband and was faced with being a single mother of two young daughters. She was employed part-time at McDonalds although she had her Bachelor’s degree.
Her desire to find a better job that would pay all of her bills led her to completing a Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-By World application. She completed the program, which teaches life skills on self improvement and economic self – sufficiency, and immediately began to seek employment. She applied and received a position as a Teacher’s Assistant. She is now in line for a Head Teacher position and is currently enrolled in school to work on her Master’s degree.

12. Low-Income Household Grants (continued)
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Funds home energy assistance via payments made to energy companies on behalf of eligible low-income households.
Supports programs that provide energy-related repairs and improvements to residential homes.
Eligibility:
Local governments
Community Action Agencies
Applicants must apply for assistance with the LIHEAP provider in their county.
A 62-year old woman had been living with her daughter in Polk County for an extended period of time. She was finally able to secure housing only to find that she had an old utility bill that needed to be paid. Her housing was contingent upon being able to secure her utilities. LIHEAP was able to partner with other funding sources to pay the old bill plus a deposit for a total of $950, thereby enabling her to live on her own.
“It’s nice to know there are organizations out there like you to help families in need. I highly thank you for helping me.”

13. Low-Income Household Grants (continued)
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
Helps to increase energy efficiency and reduce health and safety concerns in low-income homes to reduce heating and cooling bills of low-income individuals by making the homes more energy-efficient.
Energy-efficiency measures performed through the program include:
Air and duct sealing;
Wall, floor and attic insulation;
Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system improvements;
Lighting efficiency improvements and
Water heater and pipe insulation.
Eligibility
Local governments
Community Action Agencies.

14. Other Grant Opportunities
Office of Disaster Recovery
Office of Partnership Engagement

15. II. Office of Disaster Recovery
Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery
Appropriated by Congress to support projects in areas that have received a presidential disaster declaration.
Working with the state, communities with significant unmet recovery needs receive assistance in recovery efforts that involve housing, economic development, infrastructure and prevention of further damage to affected areas.
Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan
In partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC), the program provides cash flow to small businesses impacted by a disaster.
Consists of short-term, interest-free working capital loans intended to bridge the gap between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer-term recovery resources, such as profits from a revived business, payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance.
Please visit or contact Rebuild Florida at

16. III. Office of Partnership Engagement
Florida Job Growth Grant Fund
Funds public infrastructure and job training projects. Designed to promote public infrastructure and workforce training across the state.
Workforce training projects will provide Floridians with transferable, sustainable workforce skills applicable to more than a single employer, and for equipment associated with these programs.
Public infrastructure projects can include transportation and utilities needed to support economic development.
Eligibility:
Local government entities may apply.
Funding may not benefit a single company.
Please visit or

17. Resources
If you have any questions about the grant programs discussed today and how your community can apply, please contact:
Joshua Askey, Office of Community Partnerships