Florida Department of Environmental Protection announces that grant applications for the Recreational Trails Program will be accepted March 18 through March 31, 2010. This is a competitive matching grant program which provides financial assistance to agencies of city, county, state or federal governments, state and federal recognized Indian tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations approved by the State for the acquisition and development of recreational trails. After implementing mandated rescissions, the Department currently has approximately $1,708,271 available. The grant funds shall be allocated as follows: (i) $614,398 must be used for motorized recreation, (ii) $361,660 must be used for nonmotorized recreation, and (iii) $732,213 must be used for mixed use recreation. The maximum grant award for each motorized project is $307,199. The maximum grant award for each nonmotorized and mixed use project is $250,000.

The Department will conduct the following grant application workshops: (i) January 26, 2010, at Wakulla Springs State Park in Wakulla Springs, (ii) January 27, 2010, at The Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez in Cortez, and (iii) February 3, 2010, at Jim Ward Community Center in Plantation. All workshops begin at 9:00 a.m.

Application packets and workshop information may be obtained from: Office of Greenways and Trails, State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Mail Station #795, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, (850)245-2052. Applications are also available at www.floridagreenwaysandtrails.com. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2010.

If accommodation for a disability is needed to participate in this activity, please notify the Office of Greenways and Trails at (850)245-2052, at least seven days before the workshop.