Issues of Interest

RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENT GRANTS Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is launching the Florida Counties Low-Income Residential Energy Efficient Grant Program. It will fund energy-efficient projects created by counties for low-income people. A total of $1 million will be given out.

VOLUNTEER FLORIDA GRANTS Volunteer Florida announced new grant opportunities that are available, including $496,000 to assist Florida’s nonprofit organizations recruit and retain skills-based volunteers through the Volunteer Generation Fund. Organizations interested in applying should respond by August 13th. Additionally, $120,000 in grant funding is available to support local governments, districts and colleges/universities in developing a Community Emergency Response Team and/or Citizen Corps Program in their community. Eligible organizations should apply by July 29th. To apply for any Volunteer Florida grants, go here.

U.S. SPACE FORCE Governor DeSantis sent a letter to U.S. Air Force Assistant Secretary John Henderson endorsing proposals by six Florida counties and three cities to house the command headquarters of the U.S. Space Force. The communities are Jacksonville, Pensacola, Brevard County, Miami-Dade County, Orange County, Pinellas County, Seminole County and a joint proposal from Tampa and Hillsborough County. In order to be considered, the community must be located within 25 miles of a military installation, be among the top 150 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the U.S. and must score a 50 or higher out of 100 on the American Association of Retired Persons Public Policy Institute’s Livability Index.