The purpose of T. Mark Schmidt Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Program (hereinafter referred to as the OHV Grant Program) is to provide financial assistance to applicants, as further defined below, to provide or improve off-highway vehicle recreational areas or trails for public use on public lands. Through the Off-Highway Vehicle Titling Program, the state of Florida has been allocated funds for implementing this program. The primary purpose of the OHV Grant Program is to provide and/or improve off-highway riding opportunities on public lands by establishing and/or maintaining existing or new riding areas; provide environmental protection and restoration to affected natural areas in the system; provide enforcement of applicable regulations related to the system and off-highway vehicle activities; provide safety, training and rider education in the operation of off-highway vehicles and if funds are available, acquire lands to be included in the system and manage, maintain and rehabilitate such lands. Grant awards are recommended by the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Advisory Committee annually, with final approval by the Commissioner of Agriculture, and appropriated by the Florida Legislature. Project deliverables must be completed by June 30, 2025. Failure to complete all deliverables by the deadline can result in loss of funding.
The OHV Grant Program is intended to help state, federal and local governments; state and federally recognized tribal units with lands in Florida, and registered non-profit organizations plan, develop, and rehabilitate facilities and lands, and education associated with off-highway use and not meant to be a continual funding source for staffing such areas.
Applicants are responsible for all information requested in this advertisement. The application package must not exceed forty (40) one-sided pages, including attachments. Do not submit Attachments B, C, D, and E since they are reference documents. All attachments must be 8 1/2" X 11", except attached sketches, plans and maps, which must be no larger than 2' X 3' and folded into 8 1/2" X 11". Five (5) copies (one copy with original signatures and four copies) of the RFA packet, including this General Instructions page, the category and project description, and all required attachments must be received no later than 2:00 pm on June 07, 2024 at:
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Florida Forest Service
FY 24-25 OHV GRANT APPLICATION
Attn: Brooks White, OHV Coordinator
Conner Building - Mail Stop C-25
3125 Conner Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
Telephone (850) 681-5884
For questions about this funding opportunity, please call (850) 681-5884.
