Best Local Government Grants in Florida

Local governments and other public or nonprofit entities in Florida can seek funding for traffic safety, driver education, and K–12 financial literacy initiatives. With a mission to create lasting safety and education solutions, Auto Club Group Foundation provides US $5,000 - US $15,000 grants within its 14-state and 2-territory service area.

The Book Festival Grants, offered by Florida Humanities, support public humanities programs at various book festivals across Florida. Since 2022, these grants have facilitated literary events that promote reading and engage communities through author talks, workshops, and family activities. Eligible Florida-based nonprofits and governments can apply for funding up to $10,000 to enhance audience reach and accessibility via diverse programming. This initiative celebrates Florida's literary heritage while fostering connections between authors and readers.

Local 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government agencies in Central Florida can receive funding for dog and cat sheltering, rescue, spay/neuter, and community education projects. Franklin's Friends provides Florida animal welfare organizations with rigorously reviewed, mission-aligned grants restricted to proposed uses, offering an additional income source for agencies serving Brevard, Hillsborough, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, and Volusia Counties.

Local governments and other eligible entities in rural Florida working on civic engagement and education can seek project funding through the Trust for Civic Life’s Civic Experiment Grant, supported by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Grants up to US $25,000 back nonpartisan, community-led programs that spark civic participation and build long-lasting local civic infrastructure.

Florida coastal local governments, Florida-based nonprofits, and education or research institutions can apply for Sea Turtle Conservancy’s competitive grants to support sea turtle conservation, research, or education projects. Funding supports activities that preserve Florida’s marine turtles, advance recovery plans, and address goals of the Marine Turtle Protection Program through on-the-ground work, studies, and public education.

The Sea Turtle Grants Program, funded by Florida's Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate revenues, supports ongoing research and conservation efforts for Florida's sea turtles through non-competitive mini-grants of $1,000. Eligible organizations, including local governments and non-profits, can apply for funding to continue essential activities like nesting surveys and rehabilitation. Applications are due by March 2, 2026, and prior recipients of Sea Turtle Grants are ineligible for this cycle.

Nonprofit legal organizations, solo practitioners, and small law firms pursuing impact litigation can apply for the Impact Fund’s recoverable grants, awarding US $10,000 - US $50,000 for out-of-pocket litigation costs. Florida local governments working with counsel on economic, environmental, racial, or social justice cases that benefit communities facing systemic oppression may be eligible partners in such efforts.

Local governments and eligible nonprofit environmental organizations in Florida can receive funding to acquire parks, open space, beaches, greenways, and other natural areas that support outdoor recreation and resource protection. Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Forever program helps implement local comprehensive plans and encourages matching funds, public-private partnerships, and conservation-focused land acquisition projects.

Florida nonprofits, producer groups, universities, agencies, and related organizations can seek funding for projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through research, education, marketing, or access improvements. Local governments in Florida may be eligible when projects benefit the broader specialty crop industry rather than a single business or product.

Florida-based nonprofit organizations, local governments, and tribal governments can seek up to US $10,000 to support public humanities projects that explore history, literature, culture, and civic life. With a mission to strengthen community understanding, Florida Humanities Council provides Florida civic and cultural programs with 12-month project funding, prioritizing small and mid-sized, rural, and underserved communities.

The Hurricane Loss Mitigation Grant Program, established by Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, aims to reduce hurricane damage through state-funded initiatives. With a budget of $7 million, it supports property retrofits, public education, and research to enhance resilience. Up to $3.5 million is allocated for community projects that promote wind and flood mitigation. The program collaborates with local entities to implement various activities, including inspections and localized flood risk reduction, ensuring compliance with the Florida Building Code.

Florida Department of Transportation

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is an executive agency and directly reports to Governor Ron DeSantis. FDOT’s continuing mission is to provide a safe statewide transportation system that promotes the efficient movement of people and goods, supports the state’s economic competitiveness, prioritizes Florida’s environment and natural resources, and preserves the quality of life and connectedness of the state’s communities. This mission is accomplished through a primary purpose to plan and develop (either directly or indirectly) Florida’s robust transportation system. 

Highway Safety Grant Programs

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) State Safety Office awards subgrants to traffic safety partners that undertake priority area programs and activities to improve traffic safety and eliminate crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities. Subgrants may be awarded for assisting in addressing traffic safety deficiencies, expansion of an ongoing activity, or development of a new program.

Subgrants are awarded as "seed" money to assist in the development and implementation of programs in traffic safety priority areas. Many types of organizations are eligible to receive traffic safety subgrant funding including government agencies, political subdivisions of state, local, city and county government agencies, law enforcement agencies, state colleges and state universities, school districts, fire departments, public emergency service providers, and certain qualified non-profit organizations (e.g., MADD, SADD, etc.).

Each applicant must develop a concept paper that identifies a traffic safety problem in the applicant’s jurisdiction. Applicants should provide documentation in the form of crash data of the traffic safety problem targeted by the subgrant. Concept papers must detail the activities of how the traffic safety problem will be addressed using subgrant funds.

Traffic Safety Priority Areas

The following are the priority areas that are available for subgrant funding: 1) Aging Road Users; 2) Community Traffic Safety Outreach; 3) Distracted Driving; 4) Drowsy Driving; 5) Impaired Driving; 6) Interstate Speeding Enforcement; 7) Motorcycle Safety; 8) Occupant Protection and Child Passenger Safety; 9) Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety; 10) Law Enforcement Liaison Program; 11) Public Traffic Safety Professionals Training; 12) Speed/Aggressive Driving; 13) Teen Driver Safety; 14) Traffic Records; 15) Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (TRCC); 16) Work Zone Safety.

Community Traffic Safety Outreach

Includes traffic safety programs identified by local communities that address crash problems, establish priorities, and develop appropriate intervention techniques. Concept papers can address areas such as education, surveys, or public information efforts. Items eligible for funding under this category may include, but are not limited to, public information and education materials, display materials, FDOT vehicle and/or tailgate wraps, and driving simulators. Subgrants for equipment only are not allowable. 

Nonprofit or governmental arts presenting organizations in Florida and the broader South Arts region can receive up to US $1,000 for staff or guest artist travel and professional development. South Arts provides funding for conferences, festivals, workshops, virtual trainings, and planning meetings, with priority for BIPOC-, LGBTQIA+-, and disability-led organizations and projects engaging these artists.

High schools, district career centers or colleges, charter technical career colleges, Florida College System institutions, and other registered apprenticeship sponsors in Florida can apply for the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant to establish, operate, or expand apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs. This Florida Department of Education funding may benefit local government–connected education and workforce initiatives.

The Adult Treatment Court Program Enhancement Grant aims to support state and local jurisdictions in enhancing adult treatment court operations. With a focus on nonviolent individuals with substance use disorders, the program integrates evidence-based treatments and recovery services to reduce recidivism and prevent overdose deaths. The grant allows jurisdictions to improve treatment capacity, expand support services, and enhance court operations, ultimately fostering a more effective response to addiction within the justice system.

Adult Treatment Court Program

Overview

The Department of Justice began supporting treatment courts over 25 years ago. Through the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Congress first authorized the Attorney General to make grants to states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and federally recognized Indian tribal government to establish treatment courts. In 1995, the Office of Justice Programs established the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program, occurring just 6 years after the implementation of the nation’s first treatment court in Miami, Florida. This work was merged into the Bureau of Justice Assistance in 2003.

The Adult Treatment Court Program supports state, local, and tribal efforts to plan, implement, and enhance the operations of adult treatment courts, including tribal healing to wellness courts. Adult treatment court programs are a tool for criminal court partners and the judiciary to facilitate coordinated approaches that address the needs of nonviolent individuals involved in the justice system who have substance use disorders and/or co-occurring mental health needs.

These courts effectively integrate evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, random drug testing, equitable sanctions and incentives, and recovery support services in judicially supervised court settings to reduce recidivism and substance use and misuse, as well as prevent overdoses. These initiatives can incorporate cultural elements and approaches.

Category 1: Planning and Implementation (Anticipated Award Amount: $950,000)

Planning and Implementation grants are available to eligible jurisdictions ready to commit to a 6-month planning phase followed by an implementation and/or launch of an ATC that supports core capacity and provides critical behavioral health treatment, case management and coordinated judicial supervision, sanctions and incentives, and other supportive services, such as transitional housing, peer recovery services, relapse prevention and employment services, that can reduce recidivism.

Adult Treatment Court Program

Overview

The Department of Justice began supporting treatment courts over 25 years ago. Through the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Congress first authorized the Attorney General to make grants to states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and federally recognized Indian tribal government to establish treatment courts. In 1995, the Office of Justice Programs established the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program, occurring just 6 years after the implementation of the nation’s first treatment court in Miami, Florida. This work was merged into the Bureau of Justice Assistance in 2003.

The Adult Treatment Court Program supports state, local, and tribal efforts to plan, implement, and enhance the operations of adult treatment courts, including tribal healing to wellness courts. Adult treatment court programs are a tool for criminal court partners and the judiciary to facilitate coordinated approaches that address the needs of nonviolent individuals involved in the justice system who have substance use disorders and/or co-occurring mental health needs.

These courts effectively integrate evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, random drug testing, equitable sanctions and incentives, and recovery support services in judicially supervised court settings to reduce recidivism and substance use and misuse, as well as prevent overdoses. These initiatives can incorporate cultural elements and approaches.

Category 3: Statewide (Anticipated Award Amount: $2,500,000)

Statewide grants are available to state applicants for funding to improve, enhance, or expand ATC services statewide. Activities include creation of new treatment courts where needed and expanding treatment and services in already established treatment courts; reviews of the program policies and procedures; and data collection and analysis to assess program practices and track recidivism. This could include training to address staff turnover and offer operational skills updates and to expand treatment resources in locations with critical substance use needs. These are intended to be one-time projects to enhance capacity that can be sustained. 

Southern rural grassroots 501(c)(3) organizations in Florida working on community organizing and justice-focused advocacy can seek general or project support through the Hubert E. Sapp Regular Grant Cycle. Southern Partners Fund provides Florida civic engagement and education groups with resources to build local leadership, strengthen rural communities, and advance social, economic, and environmental justice across the Southeast.

Florida local government agencies, colleges, universities, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits can access funding through Fish & Wildlife Foundation to support public hunting lands and shooting sports. Grants of US $1,000 - US $75,000 may fund land conservation, access improvements, safety education, youth hunting, and competitive shooting or archery programs statewide.

Florida public entities and Florida nonprofit arts organizations can receive up to US $500,000 for bricks-and-mortar construction, renovation, or acquisition of cultural facilities used at least 85% for arts programming. With a mission to support cultural infrastructure, Florida Department of State: Arts and Culture helps strengthen facilities for music, theater, dance, museums, and related disciplines across Florida.

Local governments and nonstate entities in Florida can apply for Florida Department of Environmental Protection grants to develop alternative water supply projects. Funding supports regional initiatives such as reclaimed water systems, aquifer recharge, and water conservation, with priority for areas of greatest need and projects offering the greatest overall benefit.

Florida local governments and public entities can receive funding to implement stormwater treatment, green infrastructure, groundwater protection, septic-to-sewer, and nonpoint source pollution education projects in Florida. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection supports shovel-ready efforts that reduce nutrient pollution in impaired waterbodies through Section 319(h) Clean Water Act and State Water-Quality Assistance Grants.

Counties, municipalities, and eligible special districts in Florida can seek funding for infrastructure projects that address risks identified in local government vulnerability assessments. Focused on water resource management and ecosystem resilience, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection supports projects that mitigate flooding and storm surge risks to water supplies and water resources through its Resilient Florida – Implementation Grants.

Florida counties and municipalities planning resilience projects in Florida can receive funding for vulnerability assessments of critical assets and related planning efforts. Florida Department of Environmental Protection provides Florida local governments with Resilient Florida – Planning Grants, with water management districts also eligible to support the Florida Flood Hub’s data and research needs.

Government and private nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Tribes in Florida can receive funding to provide technical assistance for mutual self-help housing construction in rural areas. With a mission to strengthen rural communities, USDA: Rural Development offers grants to supervise very-low- and low-income families building their own homes and to recruit and support participating households and partner organizations.

Local government entities and other eligible nonprofits in Florida can seek US $3,000 - US $5,000 from The NRA Foundation to support shooting sports education and safety programs. Focused on firearms safety, marksmanship, and related public service activities, this funding can help civic and public agencies expand community shooting sports and hunting safety initiatives.

The Coastal Partnership Initiative Grant Program provides competitive funding from the NOAA to support Florida's coastal counties and municipalities in managing coastal resources effectively. Eligible applicants include local governments, public colleges, and nonprofits, focusing on climate resilience, resource stewardship, public access, and waterfront revitalization. The program aims to enhance community preparedness against natural hazards, promote environmental awareness, and improve coastal infrastructure, ensuring sustainable development and protection of Florida's unique coastal ecosystems.