The Southwest Florida Water Management District is looking ahead to fiscal year 2007 by holding a series of workshops to help launch the annual Cooperative Funding Initiative Program. The workshops will focus on the program and any changes that have been made since last year. Applications and guidelines for the Cooperative Funding program will also be available.
Four public meetings will be held. The meetings will be held at the following locations:
*Friday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m. at the District’s Sarasota Service Office, 6750 Fruitville Road, 1-800-320-3503
*Monday, Oct. 17, 1 p.m. at the District’s Tampa Service Office, 7601 U.S. Hwy. 301, 1-800-836-0797
*Wednesday, Oct. 19, 1:30 p.m. at the at the District’s Bartow Service Office, 170 Century Boulevard, 1-800-492-7862
*Friday Oct. 21, 10 a.m. at the District’s Brooksville Headquarters, 2379 Broad Street, 1-800-423-1476
Cooperative Funding projects are funded by the District’s Basin Boards. Funding assistance is available to local governments, associations and individuals for water management projects that support the Districts responsibilities of water supply, flood protection, water quality and natural systems.
The Cooperative Funding Initiative Program began in 1988 and offers a 50/50 dollar cost-share for those water resources projects approved by the Basin Boards. This program has been very successful in fostering cooperation between the District and local governments.
Governments are now looking at their water needs from a regional perspective and are working with other governments within their basins. Various educational components of these projects have increased the publics understanding of water resources issues within the District’s 16-county jurisdictional area. Most importantly, the program has helped maintain quality water resources throughout the west-central region of Florida.
To learn more about this program, interested parties are invited to attend one of the workshops listed. If you have any questions, please contact Rand Baldwin at the Tampa Service Office at 1-800-836-0797, ext. 2036.