The State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection announces that grant applications for the Recreational Trails Program will be accepted March 15 through March 31, 2011. 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 development of recreational trails. After implementing mandated rescissions, the Department currently has approximately $2,622,374 available. The grant funds shall be allocated as follows: (i) $786,712 must be used for motorized recreation, (ii) $786,712 must be used for nonmotorized recreation, and (iii) $1,048,950 must be used for mixed use recreation. The maximum grant award for each motorized project is $786,712. The maximum grant award for each nonmotorized and mixed use project is $200,000.

The Department will conduct the following grant application workshops: (i) January 25, 2011, at The Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez in Cortez, (ii) February 1, 2011, at Wakulla Springs State Park in Wakulla Springs, and (iii) February 2, 2011, at Jim Ward Community Center in Plantation. All workshops begin at 9:00 a.m.

Application packets and workshop information may be obtained from the 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, 2011.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in one of the workshops is asked to advise the Office of Greenways and Trails at (850)245-2052, at least seven days before the workshop.