The Community Grant Program funds action projects that serve to restore, preserve, connect, inform, and educate. Through these action projects, the Estuary Program’s vision is to create a healthy and sustainable environment, economy, and community.

This year, the Community Grant Program will feature several new changes during the 2025-2026 award cycle to better assist applicants in applying and completing their projects.

• Extended Award Period: The grant implementation period was extended to a 13-month timeframe beginning October 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2026. Due to this longer implementation period, funding cycles will occur every two years, meaning that after our 2025-2026 cycle, our next call for applications will not occur until 2027-2028.
  
  
• Voluntary Pre-Application: A Voluntary Pre-Application will give interested applicants an opportunity to receive feedback from PPBEP staff before the full application period opens for the 2025-2026 award cycle. While submission of a Voluntary Pre-Application does not guarantee funding or selection, it can help applicants strengthen their proposal by incorporating staff feedback in their full application.
  
  
• Longer Application Period: The PPBEP Community Grant Program Request for Proposals typically opens in July after approval of the Florida state budget. In order to allow applicants more time to submit a pre-application, incorporate feedback, and collaborate with partners, the pre-application period will open in March. However, Community Grant Program funding is still contingent upon funds being allocated during the approval of the State of Florida's budget. Final budget approval typically occurs in June.
  
  

Award Range: $10,000 to $75,000 (contingent on budget availability and authorization from the PPBEP Board of Directors; available on reimbursement basis only)
Anticipated amount to be awarded: $250,000
Eligibility: Local governments or nonstate entities (educational institutions and 501(c)3s)
Location: Project must be located within the Perdido and/or Pensacola watershed within the counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, and/or Okaloosa.

Projects must be completed by December 31, 2026. 

APPLY: Voluntary Pre-Application
2025-2026 Request for Proposals (Please review before completing an application)
2025-2026 Voluntary Pre-Application Form (recommend opening in Adobe for scrollable fields)

An informational webinar was held on Monday, March 10th from 4:00-5:00pm CT. 
Informational Webinar Recording

Reference Documents
CCMP Action Plan
CCMP Education & Outreach Strategy

Submit your completed voluntary pre-application to PPBEP ([email protected]) by 11:59pm CT on April 1, 2025. 
Feedback will be sent out to applicants on May 15, 2025.  

APPLY: Full Application
The Full Application period will open on July 1, 2025 and close on July 31, 2025.