Grants

Grants and Technical Assistance
EFI Awarded $781,000 SBA Grant for Export Activity
Helpful Websites on Redevelopment Related Grants Update
Florida Incentives from Enterprise Florida
$97 Million in State Small Business Credits/Capital Venture Funds
Mount Dora Creates More Business Incentive Programs
Brightfield Programs Offer Solar Energy to Brownfield Sites

Energy Programs

Advanced Biofuel Payments Program
Advanced Biofuel Payment Program Correction
Biorefinery Assistance Guaranteed Loans
EMPOWER St. Lucie Solar and Energy Loan Fund
Repowering Assistance Payment to Biorefineries
Notice of Funding for the Rural Business Opportunity Program
Notice of Funding for the Rural Business Opportunity Program Correction

In these tough economic times, many small businesses have been challenged in terms of finance, growth and opportunities. Just as the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program targets Second-stage companies, so does the Economic Gardening Business Loan Program. To date more than half of the $8.5 million the Legislature approved in the 2009 Special Session has been loaned, with the balance of the money  available to loan now! To date over 55 companies are in the pipeline and there is still money to assist. If you have a Second-stage business in your community (10-50 employees and annual revenues of $1 to $25 million) that you know may need access to capital, help may just be an application away!

The Black Business Investment Fund of Central Florida, Inc. (BBIF) has successfully provided small business loans for over 20 years in Central Florida. BBIF is seeking the statewide network of economic development practitioners to help spread the work and help those eligible businesses in each of our communities.

As the economy revives, be the stewards of helping small business around Florida rebound and Flourish!

For more information, please contact BBIF at . You may also email to info@bbif.com or visit their website at www.bbif.com to download the EGBLP application.
Additional Grant Information

TIGER Grants
Update of Florida’s Funding for Municipal Governments
www.recovery.gov

Update on State Funded Energy Incentive Programs Presentation
States and the Stimulus, June 2009
Florida Community Loan Fund Gets New Markets Tax Credit Allocation
Florida Community Loan Fund Press Release
Federal Stimulus Update
Stimulus Borrowing Opportunities
Key Stimulus Programs
Stimulus Funding
New Bonding Options for Redevelopment

Tourist Oriented Directional Signing – TODS
Through the Tourist Oriented Directional Signing (TODS) Program, FDOT allows qualified county and municipal governments to install guide signs on the state highway system to identify local facilities, parks, libraries, tourist attractions, etc. Local government agencies are responsible for the approved design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of the signs.
[Download TODS Brochure]

Small Cities Initiative – SCI
Do you need help with your city’s redevelopment challenges? The SCI can provide a “Quick Response Team”, a team of redevelopment practitioners to help you steer a course and address imminent issues and specific needs.
Whether your needs are technical assistance, problem solving, or creative and proven ideas and programs, FRA is positioned to assist in building capacity through technical assistance and “hands on” help with redevelopment challenges.

Contact Carol Westmoreland, cwestmoreland@flcities.com or (850) 222-9684.

FRA Redevelopment Assistance Program – RAP
RAP is a volunteer, short-term service providing specific types of assistance to Florida communities of all sizes that have an interest in beginning or strengthening a downtown redevelopment program. Upon request of a Florida community, the FRA will provide a team of one to three experienced members to visit the community to address downtown issues of concern. For more information click here.
[Download RAP Service Agreement]

Florida League of Cities Grant Program
The Florida League of Cities has developed the following two programs to help Florida’s municipalities locate available grants and technical assistance:

Financial and Technical Assistance for Florida Municipalities is a 370-page resource book that provides information on grants, loans, technical assistance and other resources available to Florida municipalities. This information is available here. Copies of the publication are free to members and available for a charge to non-members.

Resource Center
Each year representatives from various state, federal and private organizations that provide grants and technical assistance to Florida’s cities are invited to participate in a special session at the annual conference held year in August. During this session, they share information with conference delegates.

For more information contact Mandy Rogers at the League office by e-mail at mrogers@flcities.com or call (800) 342-8112.