The Rural County Grant program is a semi-annual grant program provided for the purpose of assisting rural counties, as defined by Section 365.172(3)(bb), F.S., with the installation and maintenance of 911 systems.

1. (1) Eligibility. Any Board of County Commissioners in the State of Florida, with a county population of fewer than 75,000 is eligible to apply. Two or more rural counties may apply for a joint grant, but each county must complete and submit an individual Form 6A “County E911 Fiscal Information.”

2. (2) General conditions.

   1. (a) Each rural county applying for rural county grant funds shall complete and submit W Form 1A, “911 Rural County Grant Program Application,” revised 9/2023, which is incorporated herein by reference and which may be obtained from the E911 Board office at the following address:

      HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16516"http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16516 or

      State of Florida Emergency Communications Board

      ATTN: 911 Communications Section

      4030 Esplanade Way, Suite 135

      Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0950

      The applicant must provide the completed, signed Application Form, and the related procurement documents. The grant application package must be postmarked or delivered by hand or email to: E911BoardElectronicGrantReports@dms.fl.gov on or before April 1 or October 1 of each year, dependent on the spring or fall application period. If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, the due date will be the next business day.

   2. (b) Priorities for awarding of grants will be determined by the Board. Grant priorities may be adjusted by the Board and published with the grant application package three months prior to the application submission date. The grant priority list is available as an addendum with the grant application at the start of each grant cycle at the address shown in paragraph (2)(a), above.
   3. (c) The amount and availability of funds in the Trust Fund for allocation each year is subject to an annual appropriation by the Legislature. The Board will adjust the funds awarded to a rural county based upon eligibility of requested items, published quotes, increased effectiveness of grant funds, minimum system requirements for performing the needed 911 function as specified in the State 911 plan, or documented factors provided in the grant application submission.

3. (3) The Rural County Grant program will operate on the following two schedules:

   1. (a) Spring Schedule:

      1. Counties submit applications: by April 1;

      2. E911 Board evaluates applications: April – May;

      3. Board votes on applications at regularly scheduled meetings: April – June;

      4. Board sends notification of award before June 30;

      5. Maintenance service period: One year

      6. Implementation period: One year from the award notification letter date;

      7. Expiration of the right to incur costs: Two years from the award notification letter date.

   2. (b) Fall Schedule:

      1. Counties submit applications: by October 1;

      2. E911 Board evaluates applications: October – November;

      3. Board votes on applications at regularly scheduled meetings: October – December;

      4. Board sends notification of award before December 30.

      5. Maintenance service period: One year

      6. Implementation period: One year from the award notification letter date;

      7. Expiration of the right to incur costs: Two years from the award notification letter date.

4. (4) This rule shall be reviewed, and if necessary, repealed, modified, or renewed through the rule making process five years from the effective date.

Rulemaking Authority 365.172(6)(a)11. FS. Law implemented 365.173(2)(f), 365.172(9)(a), (b), (c) FS. History–New 12-7-08, Amended 10-19-09, 4-15-10, 10-27-10, Formerly 60FF-5.002, Amended 7-17-11, 2-7-12, 9-2-12, 1-30-14, 12-21-14, 9-23-15, 5-31-16, 10-11-21, 4-2-24.