TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Volunteer Florida is proud to announce the availability of FY 2024-2025 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)/Citizen Corps Program funding and anticipates awarding up to $100,000 in subgrants that may be capped at $5,000. Interested parties may apply for funding for a CERT program, a Citizen Corps program, or both. If seeking funding for both CERT and Citizen Corps, a separate application must be submitted for each. Each subgrant application may request what they anticipate is needed (not to exceed $10,000), but awards may be restricted to $5,000. Eligible organizations interested in applying for one or both of these programs should respond to the request for proposals by Wednesday, August 28, 5:00 pm (ET).
Volunteer Florida administers Florida’s CERT/Citizen Corps program and funding is administered by Volunteer Florida through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Program. The CERT program is a training program that allows citizens to receive training in basic disaster response skills which allows these volunteers to provide critical support, giving immediate assistance to victims before emergency first responders arrive on scene.
The Citizen Corps program was created to coordinate volunteer activities that will make local communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. Citizen Corps Councils focus on emergency planning and education that will enhance community post-disaster resiliency.
Eligible applicants include local units of government, counties and cities within the State of Florida, Fire Tax Districts, other tax districts, regional planning councils, state-supported community colleges, colleges and universities, and federally recognized tribes or nations within the State of Florida. Although 501(c)3 non-profit organizations are not directly eligible, local jurisdictions can subcontract with 501(c)3 organizations to perform these functions.
Please click here to learn more about these programs and view the request for proposal and application instructions.
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