Florida Communities Trust Joins DSL

The Division of State Lands (DSL) is pleased to announce the Florida Communities Trust (FCT) staff has recently joined us. FCT serves as the community-based portion of the Florida Forever land acquisition program and is a welcome addition to DSL!

FCT administers the Parks and Open Space and Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Florida Forever grant programs. These two programs have established a rich legacy of partnership and preservation throughout the state by providing grant funds from Florida Forever and its predecessor program Preservation 2000 (P-2000) to local governments and eligible non-profit organizations for the acquisition of community-based parks, open space, and projects supporting Florida's seafood harvesting and aquaculture industries.

FCT's Parks and Open Space program assists Florida's communities with the purchase of parks, natural areas and greenways that further outdoor recreation and natural resource protection needs identified in local government comprehensive plans. The program receives 21 percent of the total Florida Forever appropriation. Over the last 20 years, the Parks and Open Space program has awarded an excess of $821 million in P-2000 and Florida Forever funds to acquire more than 89,000 acres of land for open space and recreation purposes, creating a diverse collection of more than 550 local and regional parks. In addition, FCT's local partners have contributed more than $690 million in local matching funds.

The creation of the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts program by the 2008 Florida Legislature acknowledges the importance of the traditional seafood harvesting and aquaculture industries in Florida. The program receives 2.5 percent of the total Florida Forever appropriation. Grant funds are used to acquire land that enhances Florida's commercial fishing and aquaculture industries or that promotes and educates the public about the economic, cultural, and historic heritage of Florida's traditional working waterfronts.

We invite you to take a few moments to learn more about Florida Communities Trust by visiting www.dep.state.fl.us/lands/FL_Communities_Trust.

Three Sisters Springs in the City of Crystal River