Page Banner

DEP Funding Opportunities

Funding Sections: Water Restoration | Resilience and Coastal Protection | Air Quality | Land and Recreation | Waste Management

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection provides opportunities for local governments and eligible entities to submit proposals for funding to protect and restore Florida’s natural resources.


Water Restoration Funding 

Water Quality Improvement 

Funding to address wastewater (including septic to sewer), stormwater and agricultural sources of nutrients in waterbodies that are not attaining nutrient or nutrient-related standards, have an established total maximum daily load or are located within a basin management action plan area, a reasonable assurance plan area, an accepted alternative restoration plan area, or a rural area of opportunity under Section 288.0656, Florida Statues. 

Nonpoint Source Management 

Funding for local governments and nonstate entities to implement eligible shovel-ready stormwater treatment projects that reduce or eliminate nonpoint source nutrient pollution in verified impaired waterbodies. Funding is also available for projects that implement nonpoint source pollution best management practices, public education programs to prevent pollution and septic abandonment/connection to sewer on private property.  

State Water Quality Assistance Grants

Funding for water quality improvement projects targeting specific areas or specific pollutant sources. Projects may include septic-to-sewer, wastewater, stormwater and other projects that improve water quality.  

Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvement

Funding for local governments and nonstate entities to strengthen ongoing efforts to protect the Indian River Lagoon. Project proposals can include wastewater improvements (including septic-to-sewer), stormwater management and other projects that will help improve water quality and support the Indian River Lagoon Protection Program.  

Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvement

Funding for local governments and nonstate entities to strengthen ongoing efforts to protect Biscayne Bay. Project proposals can include wastewater improvements (including septic-to-sewer), stormwater management and other projects that will help improve water quality in Biscayne Bay.  

Innovative Technology for Harmful Algal Blooms 

Funding to local governments and nonstate entities for projects that evaluate and implement innovative technologies and short-term solutions to combat harmful algal blooms and nutrient enrichment, restore and preserve Florida’s fresh waterbodies, and implement certain water quality treatment technologies.  

Alternative Water Supply

Funding for local governments and nonstate entities to help communities plan for and implement water conservation, reuse, and other water supply and water resource development projects. Priority funding will be given to regional projects in the areas of greatest need and for projects that provide the greatest benefit. 

Springs Restoration Grants  

Funding for land acquisition to protect springs and for capital projects that protect the quality and quantity of water that flows from springs. These projects must be submitted through the appropriate water management district and its solicitation process.  

Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan (CWSRF) 

Florida’s largest financial assistance program for clean water infrastructure provides low-interest loans to local governments to plan, design and build or upgrade wastewater, stormwater and nonpoint source pollution prevention projects. Certain agricultural best management practices may also qualify for funding. The loan terms include a 20-year amortization and low-interest rates. 

Small Community Wastewater Facility Grants 

Available for recipients of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan for the construction of wastewater facilities in municipalities with 10,000 or fewer people and per capita income levels below Florida's average.  

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loans 

Low-interest loans for local governments and certain private utilities to plan, design, and build or upgrade drinking water systems. Principal forgiveness (grants) also may be available for disadvantaged communities. 

Wetlands Restoration and Protection Grants

This grant program is available to local governments and non-state entities to protect or restore wetlands. To be eligible, proposed projects must have at least a 50 percent cost-share provided with non-state funds. Projects will be reviewed by DEP with priority given to those that benefit fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, water storage, water conservation or flood attenuation.

Innovative Wastewater Technologies Grants

This grant program is available to local governments and non-state entities to pilot emerging and innovative technologies at private and government-owned utilities that are designed to reduce the presence of contaminants of emerging concern in wastewater, including pharmaceuticals. 

Deepwater Horizon Funding 

Funding streams were created for compensation for injury/damage under the Natural Resource Damage Assessment, civil penalties administered under the RESTORE Act and a criminal settlement administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Gulf Environmental Benefits Fund. Each of the funding streams is tied to a particular type of injury or violation, and each one is administered differently. 

Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Grants 

Funding for reclamation of property mined for phosphate prior to the 1975 introduction of regulatory requirements for reclamation. The grant program reimburses landowners for approved costs of reclamation work to improve environmental and economic utility of lands by removing safety hazards and improving water quality and quantity in affected watersheds.  


Resilience and Coastal Protection Funding 

Resilient Florida Grants 

Funding for counties, municipalities, water management districts, flood control districts, special districts and regional resilience entities to address the impacts of flooding and sea level rise. Eligible applicants may receive funding assistance to analyze and plan for vulnerabilities as well as implement projects for adaptation and mitigation. 

Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative Grants 

Funding for academic and private partnerships to implement Florida's Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative to establish, expand and maintain in-state propagation and grow-out facilities; develop and implement strategies and site-specific restoration plans including curriculum for a trained workforce; and reinforce and expand restoration efforts across Florida’s Coral Reef. 

Coastal Partnership Initiative Grants 

Funding to protect and effectively manage Florida’s coastal resources at the local level. Florida's 35 coastal counties and all municipalities within the county boundaries are eligible if they are required to include a coastal element in their local comprehensive plan. Florida public colleges and universities, regional planning councils, national estuary programs and nonprofit groups also may apply with an eligible local government partner. 

State Agency and Water Management District Grants 

Provides federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration funds for state agencies and water management districts for projects related to coastal resource protection.

Clean Vessel Act Grant 

Funding for  up to 75% of eligible project costs relating to a marina's pump out waste-handling facilities, including site preparation, equipment purchase, installation, operations, maintenance, sewage hauling  and educational outreach. 

Beaches Funding Program 

Funding for local governments for “Beach Restoration and Nourishment Projects” and “Inlet Sand Bypassing/Inlet Management Plan Implementation Projects.”  

Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program 

Funding available for coastal property owners (multi-family, site-built, residential properties, not to exceed four units) with coastal beach erosion from either Hurricanes Ian or Nicole or both within the listed impacted counties: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Nassau, Palm Beach, Saint Johns, Saint Lucie, Sarasota and Volusia. This grant will cover reimbursement of construction costs associated with sand placement or temporary or permanent coastal armoring. 


Air Quality Funding

Volkswagen Settlement Funding 

Funding for specified diesel emission reduction projects. These projects are intended to offset excess emissions of NOx caused by the subject vehicles in order to fully mitigate the total, lifetime excess NOx emissions from the 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter vehicles. 

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) State Grant Program 

Provides funding for projects that mitigate mobile sources of emissions. 


Land and Recreation Funding 

Parks and Open Space Florida Forever Grant Program 

Funding to help growing communities support viable community development while protecting natural resources and open space.   

Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Florida Forever Grant Program 

Funding for the implementation of the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Program within the Florida Communities Trust. Local governments and nonprofit working waterfronts organizations are eligible.    

Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) 

Funding for the acquisition or development of land for public outdoor recreation. Eligible participants include local governmental entities with the responsibility for providing outdoor recreational sites and facilities for the general public. 

Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants 

Grants for acquisition or development of land for public outdoor recreation. Eligible participants include local governmental entities  with the responsibility for providing outdoor recreational sites and facilities for the general public. 

Recreational Trails Grants 

Financial assistance for the development of recreational trails, trailheads and trailside facilities available to agencies of city, county, state or federal governments, organizations approved by the state, and state and federally recognized Indian tribal governments.  


Waste Management Funding 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center Grants 

Funding to encourage the establishment of a statewide network of local household hazardous waste collection centers, to provide collection services in rural counties that do not have collection centers, and to investigate unique or innovative household hazardous waste projects.  

Small County Consolidated Solid Waste Grant 

Funding for counties with populations less than 100,000. These grants are distributed equally among those counties. Supported activities include general solid waste management, litter prevention and control, and recycling and education programs. 

Brownfield Grants

The Site-Specific Activity (SSA)/Targeted Brownfields Assessment program, authorized and funded by CERCLA Section 128(a) under the State and Tribal Response Program, is designed to help communities — especially those without EPA brownfields grants — minimize the uncertainties of contamination often associated with brownfields.     

Voluntary Cleanup Tax Credits (VCTC)  

Tax credits provided to encourage participants to conduct voluntary cleanup of certain dry cleaning solvent contaminated sites and brownfield sites in designated brownfield areas. Participants may be private or public entities but they must meet the eligibility criteria established under sections 376.3078, 376.30781 and 376.82, Florida Statutes, as applicable, and they must enter into either a voluntary cleanup agreement for drycleaning solvent cleanup or a brownfield site rehabilitation agreement. Tax credit certificates are awarded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection from an annual $10 million authorization and are valid against Florida corporate income tax. Tax credit awards in excess of $10 million for any given fiscal year are issued from the next available tax credit authorization. 

Some content on this site is saved in an alternative format. The following icons link to free Reader/Viewer software:
PDF: | Word: | Excel: