The purpose of this notice is to formally announce that the Florida Department of State is currently soliciting applications for fiscal year 2012 Small Matching Grant-in-Aid assistance for historic preservation projects.

The solicitation period begins October 1, 2010, and extends through December 15, 2010. A preview of previous online applications is available at www.flheritage.com/grants. Submissions of the current application will be accepted beginning October 1, 2010. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m (Eastern Standard Time), on December 15, 2010. A hard copy of the application and attachments must be delivered to the: Bureau of Historic Preservation, R. A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250 no later than 5:00 p.m., December 15, 2010, OR be clearly postmarked by 11:59 p.m., December 15, 2010, OR show evidence of submission to an express mail service by 11:59 p.m., December 15, 2010. Arrangements for the submission of paper applications, rather than an online submission, may be made by calling: The Bureau at (850)245-6333 or toll free at 1(800)847-7278.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

Funding availability will depend upon legislative appropriation during the 2011 Legislative Session. Recommended grant awards will provide funding assistance up to $50,000.00. Appropriated funds will be available on July 1, 2011.

It is projected that approximately $118,000 will be made available for Certified Local Government (CLG) program grants for conducting survey and planning and community education projects. These funds will be comprised of the required 10% of Florida’s 2010 Federal Historic Preservation Fund apportionment, and will be available only to those local governments that are already certified or meet the requirements of item (d) below.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY

Eligible applicants include:

(a) Departments or agencies of the State of Florida (including state universities);

(b) Units of county, municipal or other local governments;

(d) Certified Local Governments or any local government that has received National Park Service certification by December 15, 2010.

Non-secular organizations are eligible to apply for grant-in-aid assistance. However, eligible development activities involving non-secular properties are limited to work on the exterior of the property and only those interior activities that are essential to the preservation of the structural integrity of the property.

PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING

Small Matching grant funds will be available to support both Acquisition & Development and Protection & Education activities.

Acquisition & Development activities include acquisition, preservation, protection, restoration, rehabilitation and stabilization of historical and archaeological properties; also the investigation of archaeological sites, the taking of photographs, the preparation of measured drawings and such other records as are necessary to record historical and archaeological sites and properties threatened with damage or destruction; and planning for eligible Acquisition & Development activities, such as the preparation of plans and specifications.

Protection & Education activities include survey and evaluation of historical and archaeological properties which includes the preparation of data for and the actual listing or registering of historical and archaeological properties in the Florida Master Site File or, if eligible, the National Register of Historic Places; preparation of long-range historic preservation and management plans for historical and archaeological properties; development of automated information systems to facilitate the recording of property data or to facilitate the management of information on other subjects pertaining to historic preservation; community education and community relations projects promoting the preservation of historical and archaeological properties in general; research to study the effectiveness and results of historic preservation programs, methods and techniques; research of historical documents for the purpose of documenting and evaluating the significance of historical and archaeological properties; and use of staff or a private consultant hired through appropriate procurement standards to organize a Certified Local Government program or its components.

Other preservation activities may also be eligible for grant assistance. If you have a question about the eligibility of a project or work element, please call the Bureau.

GENERAL PRIORITIES

Historic Preservation

The goal of the Bureau is to locate, identify and protect the significant historic properties of the state as rapidly as possible to provide a basis for effective preservation planning throughout the state. In accordance with the application evaluation criteria outlined in Chapter 1A-39, Florida Administrative Code (“Division of Historical Resources Grants Programs”), projects within each category shall be compatible with the following priorities:

A. Survey Priorities

1. Surveys to identify, evaluate and document historic properties and archaeological sites associated with Florida’s minority heritage.

2. Surveys of broad areas where no previous surveys have been undertaken.

3. Surveys located in areas subject to intensive development pressure.

4. Surveys designed to complete comprehensive coverage of areas in which partial surveys have been made.

5. Surveys that address historic themes not covered or under-represented in previous surveys.

B. Registration (National Register) Priorities

1. Registration of historical resources identified by previous survey activity.

2. Registration of properties of national significance, and not previously listed in the National Register.

3. Registration of properties of statewide or local significance, and not previously listed in the National Register.

C. Planning Priorities

1. Development of historic preservation elements (or historic preservation components of coastal management, future land use or housing elements) of Local Government Comprehensive Plans.

2. Development of plans for informing the public as to the economic and other benefits of preserving historical resources.

3. Development of protection tools, such as local ordinances.

4. Implementation of automated information systems to facilitate the recording of site data or information on other historic preservation subjects.

D. Community Education Priorities

1. Historic preservation education programs for school children.

2. Projects having to do with minority historic preservation.

3. General publications about preservation.

4. Self-guided tours of historic areas.

E. Acquisition and Development Priorities

1. Assistance for stabilization or other appropriate preservation treatments for properties which are in imminent danger of being lost due to physical deterioration or planned development.

2. Assistance in the development of plans for the restoration or rehabilitation of properties, particularly those that will be placed in public use.

3. Assistance in the restoration and rehabilitation of properties for which appropriate preservation planning is complete or well underway, particularly those which will be placed in public use.

4. Assistance for restoration or rehabilitation projects which will yield technical innovations which will have application in other projects.

5. Assistance for restoration or rehabilitation projects that will demonstrate the environmental value of historic preservation. Such projects must adhere to recognized sustainability standards and must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Applications for all types of eligible projects are earnestly solicited and encouraged and will be judged on their merits according to the criteria in Rule 1A-39.008, Florida Administrative Code.

VIVA FLORIDA

Projects that reflect the goals of Viva Florida, a series of statewide events recognizing the historic significance of Spanish exploration in Florida, will be of special interest. Such projects should include efforts to enrich the general public’s understanding of Florida’s Spanish history through education, public events, and efforts to promote Florida’s unique Spanish history. Please see www.vivaflorida.org and the Viva Florida document accompanying this solicitation.

SPECIAL STATEWIDE PROJECTS within the Small Matching Grant Program

For the special projects described below, the Grant Review Panels appointed by the Florida Secretary of State may waive matching requirements. The Panels reserve the right to decline to recommend funding for any applications in these areas if, in the judgment of the Bureau and the Panels, the proposed goals of these projects would not be met.

1. Florida Main Street Program

Special consideration will be given for grants to national and statewide organizations whose programs assist local redevelopment of historic downtown business districts to assist in the administration and provision of technical assistance within the Florida Main Street Program, and non-matching $10,000 “start-up” grants for newly selected Florida Main Street communities.

2. Sustainable Stewardship, Phase 2

Special consideration will be given to proposals for Phase II of a study titled SUSTAINABLE STEWARDSHIP: The Environmental Benefits of Historic Preservation in Florida. The Phase I preliminary study was completed by Bender & Associates Architects, P.A. and Green Building Services in September 2009 and is available by request in electronic format from the Division. In the Phase I study, bibliographic sources were identified, as well as potential sources for statistical information and case studies. Partner organizations were identified and several have committed to support the future project. Potential Members of a Technical Advisory Committee for Phase II were identified, and many have committed by letter or email to donate their time to the project. The goal of Phase II is to produce documented scientific data that will build a case for historic preservation by describing the common goals of historic preservation and sustainable practices. The final grant product will be a technical report, similar to the 2010 Update of the Economic Impacts of Historic Preservation in Florida Technical Report, available upon request from the Division. This Phase II Sustainable Stewardship product should include recommendations for compatibility and resolution of conflict between LEED and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Preservation. The Phase II product will be an organized assemblage of raw data which will be distributed to professionals and the public and should provide guidance for preservation projects to comply fully with both the Secretary’s Standards and LEED standards. This will set the stage for Phase III of the project which will be to publish and distribute the data in plain language formats.

MATCH REQUIREMENTS AND PROJECT SUPPORT

The above special projects and applications submitted by local governments and not-for-profit organizations located in communities that are eligible to request a waiver or reduction of matching requirements as per Section 288.06561, Florida Statutes, are the only potential non-matching grants anticipated. All other funding will be awarded in the form of 50/50 matching grants. That is, funds will be given to support up to 50% of the cost of an eligible project, with the other 50% to be provided by the grant recipient (grantee) in the form of cash match or allowable in-kind and donated services match with a specified cash value. The required match must include a minimum cash contribution of 25 percent.

In computing grant match, please note that, while direct administrative costs for conducting grant activities will be considered allowable expenditures, indirect administrative charges or overhead are not allowable. (Please see documents accompanying this solicitation notice.) In valuing in-kind and donated services, please be sure to use a value that reflects a typical fair market value you would pay if you were purchasing such services. Also, please be aware that you may not use expenditures of any kind made prior to the grant period as part of your match.

It is important that the applicant document support for the project for which funding is requested. Several letters of support, endorsements, resolutions, and other documentation evidencing local, regional or statewide support for the project contribute significantly to the application review.

APPLICATION REVIEW AND PROJECT SELECTION

All applications submitted online by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), on December 15, 2010, with one printed copy and attachments delivered to the Bureau of Historic Preservation by 5:00 p.m., December 15, 2010, OR clearly postmarked by 11:59 p.m., December 15, 2010, OR showing evidence of submission to an express mail service by 11:59 p.m., December 15, 2010, will be reviewed for eligibility.

All eligible applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis by Grant Review Panels appointed by the Secretary of State in public meetings scheduled for March 21 and 22, 2011, in Tallahassee.

The Panels will prioritize all applications and recommend a level of funding (full or partial) for each project. In accordance with the Government Performance and Accountability Act of 1994, the Division of Historical Resources is mandated to increase the number of historic and archaeological properties protected or preserved for public use.

Please note that many projects may not be recommended for the full amount requested; rather, the Panel members may recommend an amount intended as a significant contribution to the project. Final project selection will be made by the Department of State and will depend heavily upon Grant Review Panel recommendations.

Projects selected for grant awards will be announced by July 1, 2011. Grant award agreements will be forwarded to grantees in July of 2011, and project work may not be initiated until a formal grant award agreement between the grantee and the Department is executed. Work begun before July 1, 2011, or conducted after June 30, 2012, including that paid with matching funds, will not be eligible for reimbursement.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If you have any questions regarding proposed projects or the application process, please call the staff of the: Bureau of Historic Preservation at 1(800)847-7278 (PAST) or (850)245-6333. Questions regarding Acquisition and Development projects should be directed to: Phillip Wisley or Jennifer Patnode. Questions regarding archaeological projects, historic structures surveys, planning, and community education projects should be directed to Sharyn Heiland. General questions regarding the grants program should be directed to Sharyn Heiland, Crista Hosmer, or Jennifer Patnode.

Please visit our website at www.flheritage.com/grants for more information on the grants program and to begin the application process.