Funding, Contracts and RFPs

FY 2023-2024 Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Recipients

• University of West Florida $460,000 – To develop, field, and verify the prototype system and control network on the Avon Park Air Force Range to show proof of concept for the Beta Test of the Florida Advanced Training Range.
• City of Jacksonville Military Affairs and Veterans Department $500,000 – To implement encroachment protection and compatible land use for Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, and Outlying Field Whitehouse.
• Clay County Development Authority $500,000 – To purchase fee and/or less than fee interest in property(ies) within the approved Army Compatible Use Buffer around Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, protecting the center from incompatible land development and encroachment and safeguarding current and future training operations
• 125th Fighter Wing – Florida National Guard $500,000 – To improve the current road surface, making it suitable to support construction traffic and gain access to the new alternate entry gate in preparation of the base’s continued growth.
• Emerald Coast Regional Council $182,600 – To build upon partnership agreements among the military installations in the Emerald Coast region and their surrounding communities to allow military installations to partner with local and state governments and provide a wide variety of services.
• Orange County Research & Development Authority $120,000 – To create a roadway widening design and engineering plan for Science Drive at the new main entrance to the Navy Complex at the Central Florida Research Park.
• TOTAL – $2,262,600

FY 2022-2023 Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Recipients

• City of Jacksonville Military Affairs and Veterans Department $500,000 – For encroachment protection/compatible land use for Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Outlying Field Whitehouse
• Emerald Coast Regional Council $161,810 – To use Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGSAs) among the military installations in the Emerald Coast region and their surrounding communities to allow military installations to partner with local and state governments and provide a wide variety of services.
• University of West Florida $300,000 – To use for concept development of the Florida Advanced Training Range to support the ongoing effort to define the Florida Advanced Training Range logistics, equipment and training requirements.
• Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce $56,000 – For the Jacksonville Federal Military Advocacy for Increase in Littoral Combat Ships, Destroyer Guided Missile Ships and Frigate Guided Missile Ships loading at Naval Station Mayport.
• Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce $75,000 – For advocacy support with U.S. Air Force Headquarters, Air Combat Command and Air Force Reserve Command decisionmakers for sustaining Homestead Air Reserve Base’s missions and installation.
• TOTAL – $1,092,810

FY 2021-2022 Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Recipients

• City of Jacksonville Military Affairs and Veterans Department $500,000 – For encroachment protection/compatible land use for Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Outlying Field Whitehouse
• Clay County Development Authority $500,000 – To buffer Camp Blanding from incompatible land development.
• Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast $200,000 – For a Feasibility Study for Cape Canaveral Space
  Force Station Regional Wastewater Treatment
• TOTAL – $1,200,000

FY 2020-2021 Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Recipients

• Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners $70,000 – To develop and implement a Career Academy Outreach for Military Children
• Clay County $500,000 – To buffer Camp Blanding from incompatible land development at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center
• Polk County Board of County Commissioners $500,000 – To protect Avon Park Air Force Range from encroachment through the acquisition of a conservation easement to prevent incompatible land use
• Orlando Economic Partnership $110,000 – To support the Modeling, Simulation, and Training (MS&T) Center’s growth and expansion in Florida emphasizing its national security value and contribution to Florida’s military installations. Additionally, this funding supports Orlando Economic Partnership’s efforts to expand MS&T education starting in middle school through graduate school.
• South Florida Progress Foundation $110,000 – To complete a South Florida-focused resilience assessment to posture quad-county installations and personnel for sustained mission accomplishment and protection of vital installations in the face of climate-driven and other resilience challenges.
• Northeast Florida Fire Watch Council $160,000 – To fund educational programming, the Northeast Florida Military & Veteran Resources Guide and a Micro Grant program to strengthen of suicide prevention in Northeast Florida.
• Bay County Board of County Commissioners $164,277 –  To support the ongoing rebuilding of Tyndall Air Force Base.
• University of West Florida $60,000 – To advance Florida’s Military Training, Test and Evaluation Ranges.
• TOTAL – $1,674,277

FY 2019-2020 Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Recipients

• Clay County Development Authority $500,000 – To buffer Camp Blanding from incompatible land development.
• Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast $125,000 – To support mission growth by identifying opportunities and resources by producing a detailed assessment of the conditions of critical infrastructure supporting Eastern Range space operations.
• Military Child Education Coalition $100,000 – To support military-connected children in Florida.
• Florida Department of Military Affairs $129,000  – For the acquisition of 70-acres of former Homestead Air Reserve Base property from Miami-Dade County
• Bay County Board of County Commissioners $270,900 – For a Bay County Infrastructure Assessment supporting Tyndall Air Force Base
• City of Jacksonville Military Affairs and Veterans Department $322,500 – For encroachment protection/compatible land use for Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Outlying Field Whitehouse
• TOTAL – $1,447,400

FY 2018-2019 Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Recipients

• Polk County $500,000 – To acquire conservation easements and preserve military readiness by limiting incompatible development near the Avon Park Air Force Range.
• Clay County $500,000 – To buffer Camp Blanding from incompatible land development.
• Bay County $95,000 – To develop an expeditionary rapid innovation center outside Naval Station Activity Panama City, which will collaborate with local colleges, universities, and business in a public-private partnership.
• Gulf Coast State College $144,000 – To complete the required environmental impact study and scoping sessions to ensure Tyndall Air Force Base is a compatible location to house the beddown of the MQ-9 Reaper Air Wing.
• Highlands County Board of County Commissioners $90,000 – To match the $150,000 Department of Defense (DOD) Sentinel Landscape Coordinator Grant to build upon short-term accelerators for implementation of the Avon Park Air Force Range (APAFR) Sentinel Landscape Partnership.
• Gulf Coast State College $144,000 – To work closely with the Office of Management and Budget to identify the funding requirements needed to rebuild and to assist the Air Force in building the premier “Base of the Future” at Tyndall Air Force Base.
• TOTAL – $1,473,000

FY 2017-2018 Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Recipients

• Tampa Bay Defense Alliance $135,000 – Champion MacDill AFB to national influencers through strategic engagement.
• Gulf Coast State College $30,000 – Identify Air Force community partnership initiatives that will benefit Tyndall AFB, Bay County, and the greater state of Florida.
• InDyne Inc. $235,000 – Develop Systems Engineering Management Plan for a remotely operated site at Carrabelle, FL to support Gulf Range instrumentation.
• South Florida Progress Foundation $140,000 – Second-year funding of the South Florida Defense Alliance to unite, champion and represent the South Florida defense community.
• TOTAL – $540,000

FY 2016-2017 Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Recipients

• Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce $250,000 – Provide Naval Air Station Pensacola directional signage.
• Clay County Development Authority $400,000 – Purchase of 578 acres adjacent to Camp Blanding to provide buffer from incompatible land development and encroachment.
• Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce $115,000 – Establish a South Florida Defense Alliance to unite, champion and represent the South Florida defense community.
• TOTAL – $765,000

FY 2015-2016 Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Recipients

• Bay County $120,000 – Conduct feasibility study of dredging at Naval Support Activity(NSA) Panama City to facilitate berthing of Littoral Combat Ships (LCS)
• Santa Rosa County – $41,310 – Prepare updated land acquisition study and complete phased plan to limit encroachment at Naval Air Station Whiting Field.
• Clay Count Development Authority – $400,000 – Acquire 420 acres adjacent to Camp Blanding to prevent encroachment.
• Tampa Bay Defense Alliance – $175,000 – Execute plan to champion MacDill AFB and build strong community relationships with the base to protect it from closure.
• Highlands County $500,000 – Acquire conservation easements to prevent encroachment to Avon Park AF Range.
• Clay County – $400,000 — Acquire 630 acres adjacent to Camp Blanding to prevent encroachment.
• Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County – $250,000 — Facilitate the expansion of non-hazardous military training to pre-designated state lands to relieve congestion at Eglin AFB.
• National Math And Science Initiative – $175,000 – Increase military students test scores in math, science and English: focused on Bay and Clay counties.
• Military Child Education Coalition – $225,000 – Provide support to military schoolchildren in 12 counties to improve student outcomes.
• Doolittle Institute – $100,000 – Establish a technology innovation center to support weapons development mission of Eglin AFB.
• City of Key West – $150,000 – Refurbish Truman Annex seawall.
• TOTAL – $2,536,310

FY 2014-2015 Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Recipients

• Santa Rosa County $20,654 – Site clearing to improve force protection at NAS Whiting Field.
• Tampa Bay Defense Alliance $150,000 —  Execute strategic plan (MacDill 2025) to champion MacDill AFB.
• Polk County $500,000 – Protect Avon Park Range from incompatible land use through acquisition of land or specific property rights.
• Clay Count Development Authority $400,000 — Purchase of 159 acres adjacent to Camp Blanding to provide buffer from incompatible land development and encroachment.
• National Center for Simulation (Orlando) $240,000 — Implement strategic plan to retain Team Orlando and address office space shortage.
• Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County $285,000 — Continued development of public-private partnerships to improve the military value of Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field.
• Bay County $200,000 — Expand Bay County Intelligent Transportation System to synchronize traffic lights on access roads to Tyndall AFB.
• Space Florida $38,500 — Implement Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) component to emergency response exercise at Camp Blanding.
• Florida 8 (a) Alliance $100,000 — Develop defense industry and veteran owned small business growth and job creation.
• Air Force Enlisted Village $135,000 — Provide assistance in construction of veterans housing in Ft. Walton Beach area.
• Florida’s Great Northwest $25,000 — Implement marketing program to aerospace and defense industries to bring veterans jobs to NW Florida.
• Career Source Gulf Coast $150,000 — Provide meaningful employment and training services to transitioning military members.
• University of West Florida $350,000 — Implement program to identify and train military and veterans in information technology and cybersecurity skills.
• City of Key West $100,000 – Road access via Truman Waterfront Park.
• TOTAL – $2,694,154

FY 2013-2014 Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Recipients

• National Center for Simulation (Orlando) $350,000 – Develop and execute strategic plan to retain Team Orlando and address office space shortage.
• Clay County Development Authority $474,000 – Installation of air space control system at Camp Blanding.
• City of Niceville $25,000 – Development of GIS mapping to implement Joint Land Use System with Eglin AFB.
• Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce $200,000 – Establish a Center of Excellence for information dominance to stimulate science and technology research.
• Tampa Bay Defense Alliance $225,000 – Develop strategic marketing campaign to champion and protect MacDill AFB missions.
• Economic Development Alliance of Bay County $500,000 – Expand high capacity data link (Lambda Rail) to connect to NSA Panama City.
• Clay County Development Authority $255,000 – Installation of mass notification system to improve safety at Camp Blanding.
• Florida 8 (a) Alliance $150,000 — Support veteran and defense small businesses.
• Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County $195,000 — Tri-County Community Partnership Initiative.
• Florida’s Great Northwest $50,000 — Five County Marketing Diversification plan.
• TOTAL – $2,424,000

FY 2013 Grant Recipients

• Bay Defense Alliance $500,000 – Acquisition of land to buffer NSA Panama City from encroachment.
• National Center for Simulation (Orlando)  $350,000 – Comprehensive threat mitigation plan to reduce Team Orlando’s risk of realignment or closure.
• Highlands County Economic Development Council $500,000 – Encroachment prevention at Avon Park Air Force Range.
• City of Jacksonville $250,000 – Construction of Explosive Ordinance Disposal bunker at Jacksonville Air Guard Base.
• Tampa Bay Defense Alliance $130,000 – Establish cohesive, effective local defense community organization.
• Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners $160,000 – Construction of fence to buffer the base from encroachment.
• Greater Pensacola Chamber $250,000 – Establish a Center of Excellence for information dominance to stimulate science and technology research.
• The Andrews Research and Education Institute $225,000 – Provide support for wounded Special Operations warriors to return to active duty.
• City of Jacksonville $200,000 – Establish a maritime research and development capability at Naval Station Mayport.
• Florida 8 (a) Alliance $100,000 – Support for veteran-owned and defense industry small businesses across Florida.
• TOTAL –  $2,665,000