The Florida Communities Trust (Trust) announces an application period for receiving applications from local governments and non-profit environmental organizations requesting funding awards from the Trust’s Parks and Open Space Florida Forever Program.

DEADLINE: Applications will be accepted beginning on March 12, 2010 and ending at 5:00 p.m. (EDT), May 29, 2010. Applications must be received in the Trust’s office by the above stated deadline. Applications received in the Trust’s office after the published deadline shall be deemed late and will not be considered by the Trust.

APPLICATION FORMS: Applications for funding must be made on Application Form FCT-5 following procedures in Rule Chapter 9K-7, F.A.C. Copies of the rule chapter and application form may be obtained by visiting the Trust website: http://www.floridacommunitiestrust.org, by calling (850)922-2207 or by writing: Florida Communities Trust, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100.

ADDRESS: For mail and carrier service deliveries, the delivery address is Florida Communities Trust, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Suite 310, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100. For hand deliveries, the delivery location is Suite 310, Sadowski Building, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL.

FUNDS AVAILABLE: The Trust’s available funds are dependent on Legislative action which is expected to occur by the close of the legislative session on April 30, 2010.

LOCAL MATCH: Section 259.105(3)(c), F.S. requires that of the funds allocated to the Trust and used for land acquisition, 75 percent shall be matched by local governments on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Paragraph 9K-7.003(8)(c), F.A.C., allows 100 percent grant funding to counties with populations under 75,000, municipalities with populations under 10,000 and eligible nonprofit environmental organizations. All other applicants shall provide a minimum of 25 percent match toward project costs.

LIMITS ON AWARDS: Under the provisions of subsection 9K-7.003(7), F.A.C., the total amount of any award or combination of awards applied for by any local government or nonprofit environmental organization under any application(s) or partnership application(s) for any project(s) shall not exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) during any one cycle. All awards for partnership applications, for the purposes of calculating award limits, shall be divided equally among the local government or nonprofit environmental organization.

MORE INFORMATION: Interested parties may obtain more information from the Trust website: http://www.floridacommunitiestrust.org or by contacting: Florida Communities Trust at (850)922-2207 or by writing the above stated address.