It’s a common conundrum: plenty of work and not enough funding. Potential projects abound in communities across the U.S.—projects to help beautify a neighborhood, repair an aging roadway, upgrade an antiquated sewer system, or build a new boat ramp to attract visitors to an economically struggling community. Each of these projects comes with a price tag, some more hefty than others. Often, grants can be a solution. While funding is possible through a variety of avenues, grants do not equate to debt, which can be appealing for small communities, especially those looking to attract more growth.

Addressing grant eligibility requirements involves creativity and strategic thinking, and the grant submission can often be challenging. We help clients navigate this process, identifying and often combining funding sources and assisting with required documents and a comprehensive project justification. As an example, for projects in rural north Florida, there are more than 50 grant opportunities available to communities from federal and state programs, including:

• Small County Outreach Program (SCOP)
• Small County Road Assistance Program (SCRAP)
• County Incentive Grant Program (CIGP), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
• Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP)

Moving Projects Forward

As a client manager, project manager, and practicing engineer in Florida, I find it very rewarding to assist clients in securing needed funding, including grants, to deliver critically important infrastructure projects. A few recent highlights include assisting Wakulla County with a project to remove residential septic tanks and expand its central sewer system. This effort, which has helped the county improve service and protect its natural resources, received grant funding from the Northwest Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In Calhoun County, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael in 2018, we helped obtain FEMA hazard mitigation funding to address damage to several of the county’s commercial corridors by “hardening” the roadways to make them more resilient to flooding hazards. In Gadsden County, we assisted in securing funding from the Florida Division of Emergency Management to replace the Hutchinson Ferry Road Bridge, which washed out during a storm in the summer of 2019. All of these projects represent much-needed improvements that enhance safety and protect rural economies.

Securing project funding is an all-important first step. From that point forward, project design and management—including adhering to the often complex requirements of the funding agencies—requires sound engineering, a deep understanding of permitting requirements, knowledge of funding agency requirements including post-project audits, and attention to detail from start to finish.” Justin Ford

Engineering Expertise: Delivering A Funding Plan

Securing project funding is an all-important first step. From that point forward, project design and management—including adhering to the often complex requirements of the funding agencies—requires sound engineering, a deep understanding of permitting requirements, knowledge of funding agency requirements including post-project audits, and attention to detail from start to finish. Being able to deliver a successful project often requires much more than traditional engineering skills, especially for our rural and smaller public-sector clients.