The St. Johns River Water Management District is accepting applications Jan. 14–Feb. 19 for both its Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Districtwide Cost-Share Program and its FY 2021-2022 funding program for Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) communities and innovative technology. Through its cost-share programs, the District partners with communities on projects that stretch local dollars to support water resource protection.
Over the past seven years, 249 Districtwide and REDI/Innovative cost-share projects have been completed. The District has invested $154.1 million in local communities on beneficial, cost-effective partnership projects to protect water resources. This investment has resulted in a total of 145.3 million gallons per day (mgd) of alterative water supplied, 8.2 mgd of water conserved, a reduction of 1.6 million pounds per year of total nitrogen, a reduction of 282,452 pounds per year of total phosphorus, and 4,624 acres protected from flooding.
The Districtwide Cost-Share Program is open to any applicant with a project that benefits one of the four District core missions. At its Jan. 12 meeting, the District’s Governing Board approved updates to the Districtwide Cost-Share Program effective for the fiscal year 2021–2022 solicitation cycle. These updates addressed septic to sewer projects, the funding cap and water conservation measures including irrigation ordinances and water-conserving rate structures. Entities are strongly encouraged to submit applications for funding consideration while striving to meet the new requirements.
In the Districtwide cost-share program, the District will fund up to 25% of construction costs for selected alternative water supply, water quality, flood protection, and natural systems projects, and up to 50% for water conservation projects, up to $3 million per project or per applicant.
REDI community projects and innovative projects are eligible for a maximum District cost-share of $500,000 per project and per entity. REDI communities can submit a waiver of matching funds letter, which allows for up to 100% reimbursement of construction costs within the maximum funding constraints.
REDI communities are economically disadvantaged with an employment base dominated by traditional agriculture or resource-based industries and a population of 25,000 or less. REDI-designated communities within the District are Baker, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and Okeechobee counties, all communities within those counties, and the communities of Astatula, Fellsmere, Hawthorne, Mascotte, Pierson and Umatilla.
An innovative project is one that uses emerging or proven technology in a unique way to provide alternative water supply quantities or to expand available quantities to offset groundwater withdrawal, or to otherwise improve the water resources of the district in support of the core missions.
Project criteria, application instructions and additional information about the program are available on the District’s website atwww.sjrwmd.com/funding.
Staff anticipates recommending projects for board consideration at the April 2021 Governing Board meeting.
