A view from the shoreline at St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve

The Florida Coastal Management Program is based on a network of agencies implementing 24 statutes that protect and enhance the state's natural, cultural and economic coastal resources.

The program's goal is to coordinate local, state and federal agency activities using existing laws to ensure that Florida's coast is as valuable to future generations as it is today. 

FCMP Spotlight

Florida Coastal Management Program Announces Coastal Partnership Initiative Grant Opportunity

The Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP) is pleased to announce the opening of the FY 2025 Coastal Partnership Initiative (CPI) grant opportunity. This grant program is designed to support local governments and communities in their efforts to protect, enhance, and restore Florida's coastal resources. The application period for the CPI grant will open on September 1, 2024, and close on October 31, 2024.

Grant Purpose

The CPI grant is intended to help coastal communities plan and implement projects that promote sustainable use of coastal resources, improve public access to the coast, restore natural habitats, and enhance community resilience to coastal hazards. The program encourages innovative and collaborative projects that contribute to the long-term health of Florida's coastal ecosystems and economies. Awards are a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $30,000 for planning, design, and coordination activities, and $60,000 for construction, restoration, and land acquisition activities. The CPI grant requires 100% or 1:1 non-federal match, which can be cash or in-kind, and up to 50% of the match may come from third-party source(s).

Eligibility Criteria

Florida’s Coastal Local Governments (Florida’s 35 coastal counties and the municipalities located within them that are required to have a coastal element in their comprehensive plan) are eligible. In addition, National Estuary Programs (NEPs), Regional Planning Councils, nonprofit organizations, and Florida’s public universities/colleges are also eligible to apply, as long as they have an eligible coastal local government as a signatory partner.

Projects must align with one or more of the following four priority areas:
  • Resilient Communities: Projects that enhance community resilience to coastal hazards, including climate change and sea level rise.
  • Coastal Resource Stewardship: Initiatives that promote the sustainable management and protection of coastal resources.
  • Public Access: Efforts to improve public access to coastal and marine areas.
  • Working Waterfronts: Projects that sustain or enhance the infrastructure of working waterfronts.

Application Process

Applications will be accepted starting September 1, 2024, and must be submitted by October 31, 2024, to be considered. Interested applicants can access the application form and detailed guidelines on the FCMP website. The FCMP encourages early submission to ensure all required documentation is complete. Successful applicants will be notified in early 2025, and funded projects are expected to begin in mid-2025.

Contact Information

For more information about the Coastal Partnership Initiative grant opportunity, eligibility requirements, or to access the application materials, please visit the Florida Coastal Management Program grant website or contact:

Tiffany Herrin

Florida Coastal Management Program Grant Manager
Phone: (850) 245-2953
Email: Tiffany.Herrin@FloridaDEP.gov or FCMPMail@FloridaDEP.gov