Florida Science and Technology Grants

The Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has launched the 2024-2025 Downtown Creative Collaborators Grants (DCCG) program. This program is designed to support projects and events that will take place in Downtown Miami during the fiscal year 2024-2025 (October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025). The DDA's mission, as aligned with this grant, is to strengthen Downtown Miami's appeal as a global destination and stimulate demonstrable economic impact within the area through innovative projects and events. The DCCG program targets organizations producing and implementing activations in Downtown Miami. The goal is to benefit the Downtown community by fostering connections, attracting tourism, and providing affordable, family-friendly programming. The program also aims to promote Miami as an international and diverse cultural center, a culinary destination, and an innovation hub, while also highlighting its rich history, art, culture, and natural resources. Funding priorities for the DCCG include activating outdoor venues, creating community-building opportunities, offering family-friendly programming, promoting Miami as a global city, providing cultural and historic education, raising public transportation awareness, and offering free or discounted projects and events. The grant specifically encourages content that features the communities, history, and natural resources in Miami-Dade County. Priority will be given to projects that clearly and visibly state free or discounted admissions for area residents, families, and students in their marketing and promotional materials. Expected outcomes include a measurable economic impact in Downtown Miami, increased appeal of the area as a global destination, enhanced community engagement, and greater awareness and ridership of Downtown Miami's multimodal transportation options. By supporting diverse and innovative projects, the DDA aims to further establish Downtown Miami as a vibrant hub for arts, culture, entertainment, and innovation, contributing to the overall strategic development and economic growth of the city center. Grant awards can range from $5,000.00 up to $50,000.00, and applicants must secure additional funding commitments, as the DCCG cannot be the sole funding source.

This grant provides funding for research organizations in the South Florida-Caribbean and Gulf Coast regions to study fish dynamics and habitat use in the Shark River Slough area of the Florida Everglades, contributing to ecological restoration efforts.

The Mayor’s Matching Grant program, funded by the City of Orlando, offers $500 to $5,000 in matched funding to neighborhood organizations for projects that enhance the neighborhood, such as beautification, crime prevention, and sustainability, with the aim to address community needs and improve quality of life.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local arts organizations and individual teaching artists to deliver enriching arts programming to K-12 students in Orange County Public Schools.

The City of Deltona is offering a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Public Services for the 2024-2025 Federal Fiscal Program Year, with an anticipated allocation of approximately $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). This grant aims to implement activities that benefit low- and moderate-income families and persons within Deltona. Up to 15% of these funds are specifically designated for eligible public service activities. The City of Deltona, as the donor, aligns its mission with HUD's objectives by addressing community development needs and improving the quality of life for its residents, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged. The program emphasizes a commitment to fostering a more equitable and supportive community. The target beneficiaries for this CDBG program are income-eligible Deltona residents, specifically low- and moderate-income families and individuals. The primary impact goal is to provide essential public services that might otherwise be inaccessible, thereby improving the overall well-being and stability of these residents. By supporting services for those most in need, the program seeks to alleviate hardship and promote greater self-sufficiency within the community. The City of Deltona's strategic priorities include enhancing community services and ensuring that vital resources reach vulnerable populations. The program prioritizes projects that offer either new services or a quantifiable increase in the current level of service provided by non-profit agencies or other public service organizations. This focus ensures that the grant funds lead to tangible and measurable improvements in service delivery, rather than simply maintaining existing levels. The City's theory of change posits that by investing in impactful public services, it can create a ripple effect that strengthens the social fabric of the community and addresses systemic inequalities faced by low-income residents. Expected outcomes include an increased availability and accessibility of critical public services for income-eligible residents. Measurable results will be tied to the nature of the services provided, such as the number of individuals served, the types of services offered, and the quantifiable increase in service capacity. The grant's duration of one year suggests a focus on immediate and impactful interventions, with the potential for ongoing assessment of project effectiveness. The City of Deltona will evaluate proposals based on their ability to maximize services provided to the community, demonstrating a commitment to efficient and effective use of public funds.

The Florida Department of Health is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Grant Program, offering over $1 million for a 4-year period to advance cancer research, with a focus on reducing the impact of cancer on disproportionately impacted individuals and improving detection and treatment, open to any university or established research institute in Florida.

The Level Up LB: Extreme Small Business Makeover and Grant Program is designed to foster success and sustainability among small businesses. The program's core structure involves a 12-week series of comprehensive workshops focused on helping participants craft new business and marketing plans. This initiative aims to serve as a vital support resource for entrepreneurs, aligning with a mission to strengthen the local economy through business capacity expansion and enhanced resilience. Upon successful completion of the workshops, participants become eligible to apply for $10,000 grants. The program primarily targets small businesses needing structured support and financial assistance to grow. Specifically, 25 businesses will be selected to participate in the full program and receive grant awards upon completion. An additional 10 businesses will participate in the workshop series only, with potential eligibility for grants if extra funds become available. The primary impact goal is to propel these businesses toward success and sustainability, resulting in tangible expansion of business capacity and increased resilience against economic challenges. Program selection and awards are determined by a committee using specific criteria that define the priorities and focus areas. Priority is given to businesses located in low-to-moderate income areas, ensuring the program reaches historically underserved parts of the city. Additionally, the selection process prioritizes representation across multiple sectors and assesses business readiness and the potential impact of program participation. These priorities suggest a strategic focus on equitable economic development and maximizing the return on investment through supporting ready and impactful enterprises. The expected outcomes include the expansion of business capacity and increased resilience for the 25 selected grant recipients. Measurable results are tied to the completion of the 12-week workshop series and the application/disbursement of the $10,000 grants. While the provided text does not explicitly detail a "Foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change," the program's design—providing intensive training followed by significant financial investment—implies a theory of change where targeted educational support combined with capital infusion is the mechanism for achieving business growth and sustained success. Applications close on May 21st at 5 PM, and selection notifications are expected in late June.

This funding opportunity is designed for researchers with expertise in ecology and aquatic fauna to study prey concentrations in the Everglades, supporting the restoration of wading bird populations and the broader ecosystem.

The Alachua County Visitors & Convention Bureau is offering Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grants. These grants are designed to support and enhance Alachua County as a culturally interesting and vibrant destination by utilizing a portion of the Tourist Development Tax revenue. The core mission of this grant program is to aid in the operations and promotions of arts, cultural, and nature events that primarily aim to attract tourists, thereby aligning with the county's strategic goal of boosting tourism and local economic development through cultural and natural attractions. The target beneficiaries for these grants are legally established arts, nature, or culture organizations whose operations, events, and activities are within Alachua County. This also includes institutions of higher education, with certain request limits. The primary impact goal is to increase tourist attraction to Alachua County, fostering a more vibrant and culturally rich environment for both residents and visitors. The definition of a "tourist" for this grant is a person engaging in trade or recreation outside their county of residence or renting transient accommodations, which directly informs the type of events and promotions that are eligible for funding. The grant program prioritizes events that demonstrably promote activities to tourists, ensuring that the funding directly contributes to the overarching objective of tourism enhancement. Funding levels are determined by the applicant's annual budget, ranging from 10% for budgets over $1,000,000 to 30% for budgets up to $100,000. There is a maximum request of $75,000 for educational agencies, regardless of multiple applications. Special provisions are made for applicants whose primary mission is not audience attraction, requiring a separate event statement with direct expenses and revenues for the program. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of tourists visiting Alachua County, a greater variety and promotion of arts, cultural, and nature events, and enhanced operational capabilities for local organizations. Measurable results would likely involve tracking event attendance by tourists, reported operating revenues, and the extent of promotional activities targeting out-of-county visitors. The program implicitly operates on a theory of change where targeted investment in arts, culture, and nature events, specifically those promoted to tourists, will directly lead to increased tourism revenue and improved local cultural vibrancy, thus benefiting the wider community and economy of Alachua County. The grant period for funded programs and activities is between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects aimed at improving South Florida's aquatic ecosystems, targeting eligible applicants such as state and local governments, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

Florida Humanities’ Community Project Grants are designed to support public humanities programming throughout Florida. These grants align with the foundation's mission to preserve, promote, and share Florida's history, literature, culture, and personal stories, thereby offering Floridians a deeper understanding of themselves, their communities, and their state. The program seeks to strengthen vibrant communities and cultures, promote civic engagement, spark thoughtful community dialogue, and encourage reflection on the human experience. The target beneficiaries for these grants are nonprofit cultural organizations across Florida, as well as Florida-based nonprofits and public agencies, including libraries, museums, schools, and tribal governments. Higher education departments within Florida colleges and universities are also eligible. The primary impact goal is to increase public participation in and access to the humanities by providing relevant, engaging, and meaningful humanities-based programming to all Floridians, including broad general public audiences and new or underserved communities. The program prioritizes projects that are deeply rooted in the humanities and humanities scholarship, involving humanities scholars, community experts, or subject area experts in both development and delivery. Key focuses include programming that fosters connections between different communities or demographic groups, promotes networking and collaboration between institutions, and links humanities-associated organizations with other community partners. All supported projects must be free or not cost-prohibitive for the public to attend. Special consideration is given to small to mid-sized organizations with budgets under $1 million and applicants located in Rural Areas of Opportunity. Expected outcomes and measurable results include increased public engagement with humanities content, enhanced community dialogue, and strengthened cultural understanding. The grants aim to generate various forms of public humanities programming such as media projects (podcasts, film, radio), community conversations, interpretive exhibits, lectures, reading/film-and-discussion programs, cultural festivals, oral history projects, and interpretive tours. These activities collectively contribute to the foundation's strategic priorities by fostering a more informed and engaged citizenry that appreciates Florida's diverse heritage. The foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in accessible, high-quality humanities programming, they can cultivate a more reflective, connected, and civically engaged populace. By empowering local organizations and experts to deliver these experiences, Florida Humanities believes it can achieve widespread impact, ensuring that the rich tapestry of Florida's human experience is preserved and shared for future generations, ultimately contributing to stronger, more vibrant communities across the state.

The Santa Rosa Improvement Vitalization Enterprise (StRIVE) Grant, administered by the Santa Rosa County Economic Development Office, is designed to offer financial assistance to commercial property owners and business owners within Santa Rosa County, Florida. The program's core mission is to facilitate façade improvements and signage upgrades, aligning with a broader goal of enhancing property appearance, increasing property values, and stimulating local economic activity. This initiative directly supports community revitalization and sustainable economic growth within the county. The primary target beneficiaries of the StRIVE Grant are commercial property owners and business owners operating within Santa Rosa County. The program aims to positively impact the aesthetic and economic vitality of commercial areas. By providing grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, with a required 100% match, the program intends to encourage significant investment in commercial properties. The overarching impact goal is to create a more attractive business environment, which in turn draws more customers, supports local businesses, and fosters a sense of community pride. The grant prioritizes a wide array of exterior improvements, including exterior painting, lighting, new windows and doors, awnings, architectural feature restoration, parking improvements, screening and fencing, sprinkler systems, and signage. It also covers soft costs like licenses and permit fees. The focus is on tangible upgrades that visibly improve the commercial landscape. Eligible properties must be commercially zoned within Santa Rosa County and not exempt from ad valorem property tax. Applicants must possess all necessary business licenses and permits, and any legal or land-use issues must be resolved or explained. Expected outcomes of the StRIVE Grant include a measurable increase in property values, a visible enhancement of commercial building exteriors, and a stimulated local economy. The program anticipates an improvement in the overall appeal of commercial districts, potentially leading to increased foot traffic and business revenue. While specific measurable results like the exact percentage increase in property value or business revenue are not detailed, the focus on "upgrading the appearance of property" and "stimulating economic activity" implies a quantitative and qualitative improvement in the county's commercial health. The requirement for projects to comply with local codes and obtain certificates of occupancy ensures that improvements are sustainable and legally sound.

This grant provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations in Volusia and Flagler Counties to enhance programs focused on education, financial stability, and health for community improvement.

The National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program is investing $50 million in the Gulf Futures Challenge to fund projects addressing critical challenges in the Gulf region. The Challenge aims to discover and promote innovative and transformative solutions by leveraging the talent and knowledge of the Gulf's people. The competition focuses on three main areas: energy transition, environmental change along the coast, and healthy and resilient communities. Up to ten finalists will receive up to $1 million in project development support, with two finalists awarded $20 million each to implement their solutions. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, state, local, and tribal governments, and academic institutions from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas, with projects located within 100 miles of the Gulf coastline. The registration deadline is August 20, 2024, and the application deadline is September 20, 2024.

The Florida Department of Health's Sickle Cell Disease Research and Treatment Grant Program aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare services for individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Florida. This initiative also seeks to advance data collection and analysis to support SCD research. The program's mission is directly aligned with the department's public health goals, focusing on improving health outcomes for a vulnerable population through both direct care and scientific inquiry. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are persons living with sickle cell disease in Florida, along with community-based sickle cell disease medical treatment and research centers operating within the state. The impact goals are to improve healthcare services and foster research that can lead to better treatments and understanding of SCD. This involves supporting existing centers of excellence and developing new ones, ultimately creating a more robust and accessible healthcare infrastructure for SCD patients. The program has two key priority areas: sickle cell disease workforce development and education, and sickle cell disease treatment centers of excellence. These priorities are designed to address both the human capital and infrastructure needs within the SCD care landscape. The grant funds, totaling up to $10 million, can be utilized for a variety of expenses, including personnel, facility upgrades, technology acquisition, and contractual services, all aimed at bolstering these priority areas. Expected outcomes include improved health service utilization, better patient outcomes, and a stronger network of SCD treatment centers across Florida. Projects are required to include impact evaluation plans to measure these changes. The program emphasizes the importance of proposals demonstrating how an applicant's strategic priorities integrate facility enhancement or the creation of new centers, as well as showcasing the organization's experience in securing and managing funding. This ensures that projects are not only well-conceived but also sustainable and capable of delivering measurable results in line with the department's objectives.

The NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), authorized by 15 U.S.C. 278k, is seeking applications from eligible applicants to enter into a cooperative agreement to operate an MEP Center in the State of Florida. The MEP Center will provide manufacturing extension services to small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs) in the State of Florida. The MEP Center will become part of the MEP National Network, which consists of 51 MEP Centers located in every State and Puerto Rico, and over 1,440 trusted advisors and experts at approximately 460 MEP service locations.

The City of Wauchula's Revitalization Grant Program aims to restore and improve commercial buildings within the Wauchula Community Redevelopment Agency (WCRA) District. This initiative is designed to enhance the physical, economic, social, and aesthetic well-being of the city. The program's core mission aligns with urban revitalization and community development, focusing on improving private properties beyond the minimum requirements of the City of Wauchula’s Land Development Regulations. The overarching goal is to enhance the form, function, and design quality of the redevelopment district, thereby contributing to a more vibrant and prosperous Wauchula. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are property owners or their registered agents within the WCRA District who own commercial buildings. The program specifically excludes properties that do not collect property tax, do not contribute to the CRA Tax Increment Financing Fund (TIFF), or are primarily used for residential purposes. The impact goals are to encourage significant improvements to commercial properties, stimulate economic growth by enhancing business environments, and improve the overall aesthetic appeal of the district. This leads to a more attractive and functional urban core, benefiting both businesses and residents. The program prioritizes projects that go beyond standard compliance, fostering a higher quality of development. Key focuses include the restoration and improvement of commercial buildings, with an emphasis on project construction costs as eligible expenses, while design and permitting costs are explicitly excluded. Applicants are required to provide three quotes for project elements, ensuring transparency and competitive pricing. Another focus is on long-term impact, with project elements required to remain unchanged for five years and approved applicants ineligible to apply for the same property address for a five-year period. Expected outcomes include a noticeable enhancement in the appearance and functionality of commercial properties within the WCRA District, leading to increased commercial activity and a more appealing urban environment. Measurable results will be assessed through the completion of approved projects, evidenced by official Certificates of Occupancy or Completion, and adherence to grant agreements. The program's success will also be indicated by the number of properties revitalized and the subsequent positive impact on the local economy and community well-being. The WCRA's strategic priorities are to foster a thriving commercial district through incentivized development that conforms to the City of Wauchula Land Development Code. The underlying theory of change is that by offering financial incentives for property improvements, the city can stimulate private investment, which in turn will lead to a broader revitalization of the commercial district, attracting businesses and residents and enhancing the overall quality of life.

This funding initiative provides financial support to graduate students conducting herpetological research focused on the conservation and management of reptiles and amphibians in the southeastern United States.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Hillsborough County, Florida, for cultural programming that enhances community engagement and artistic vibrancy.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations and schools in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods for improving local football fields, ensuring safe and accessible play spaces for community youth.