Environmental Resources Management: Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative https://discover.pbc.gov/erm/LWLagoon/Forms/AllPages.aspx RSS feed for the Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative list. Wed, 13 May 2026 16:36:35 GMT Microsoft SharePoint Foundation RSS Generator 60 en-US Environmental Resources Management: Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative https://discover.pbc.gov/erm/_layouts/15/images/siteIcon.png https://discover.pbc.gov/erm/LWLagoon/Forms/AllPages.aspx Funding-Request https://discover.pbc.gov/erm/LWLagoon/Funding-Request.aspx Wiki Content:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Back to Initiative

Picture of Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative Logo/Banner 

Legislative Funding Requests

Now Accepting Applications for the 2026/2027 Fiscal Year until July 31, 2026

Please email ERM-LWLI@pbc.gov to obtain the application and resolution to submit for consideration.​

​Background
Since 1998, the Florida Legislature has appropriated more than $26 million towards Lake Worth Lagoon restoration. These funds have been leveraged with local funds to support over $100 million in restoration and water quality  improvements in the lagoon. Palm Beach County (PBC) will solicit project proposals to provide collaborative support for a stronger Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative (LWLI) Legislative Funding Request, and to assist local municipalities and special taxing districts in improving the Lake Worth Lagoon (LWL) through projects such as habitat restoration, storm water retrofits and septic-to-sewer conversions.

A Selection Committee (“Committee”), comprised of representatives of the following agencies: Palm Beach County, South Florida Water Management District, Palm Beach County League of Cities, Florida Inland Navigation District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, will be convened for one day to hear presentations and to rank projects for inclusion in Palm Beach County’s annual legislative
agenda for the LWLI funding request.

Funds are appropriated to the LWLI by the Florida Legislature and will be distributed to projects in order of ranking. Individual projects may also be approved for funding through the LWLI Legislative Funding Request. Each recipient will be responsible for entering into a contractual agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to receive reimbursement based funding.

​Eligibility
Inclusion in the L​WLI Legislative Funding Request is limited to political subdivisions of the State of Florida. This includes municipalities, drainage districts/stormwater utilities, special taxing districts, PBC Agencies and the PBC School Board. Additionally, projects submitted for funding must be within the Lake Worth Lagoon and/or within its watershed highlighted in the picture below:
Map highlights the boundary of the Lake Worth Lagoon Watershed that encompasses over 305,000 acres of land from North Palm Beach south to Ocean Ridge and from Lake Okeechobee east to the Atlantic Ocean that drains surface water runoff into the C-17, C-51, and C-16 Drainage Canals operated by South Florida Water Management
[Click on picture to open larger image]​

Project Selection Criteria 
To the greatest extent possible, all projects must be consistent with the Water Projects Grant Program as defined in FS 403.885. The Legislature’s preference is towards turn-dirt projects. Land acquisition is allowed if the land will be utilized to further a water quality or habitat improvement project. Projects should be completed within a one to two year period. Larger projects, which require multi-year implementation, may be broken down to phased projects, but each phase should yield tangible and stand alone results. In no  circumstance should contract duration exceed 24 months unless otherwise specifically authorized by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Projects are selected based on the following criteria:

  • Bang for the Buck - Does the proposed project represent tangible and measurable expectations of water quality or habitat improvements to the Lake Worth Lagoon and its watershed? Is the requested amount less than $ 750,000?
  • Ready to Go - Has the proposed project initiated land acquisitions and local approvals, if necessary, to move forward with the construction phase? (ranking preference will be given towards construction ready projects) If regulatory permits are required, have those permits been received? (Lower consideration will be given for projects that have not yet received necessary permits)
  • Local Commitment - Does the proposed project have a commitment from the local sponsor of at least 50/50 cost share (match may be other non-state funding commitments)? Does the sponsor have a record of timely completion? Has the proposed project been reviewed by the entity’s lobbying and management teams?
  • Consistency with Lake Worth Lagoon Management Plan - Does the proposed project demonstrate consistency with the goals, action plans, and/or program areas specified in the management plan? 

General Information
The LWLI Legislative Funding Request will be open from May 1, 2026 – July 31, 2026. Applications must be submitted by July 31, 2026. The application form is located on the LWLI website, www.LWLI.org. Application request amounts must not exceed $ 750,000 and must include a 50/50 match (i.e., a $ 750,000 request would provide a $ 750,000 match). All applications must be reviewed by the applicant’s lobbying and management teams prior to submission. Applicants will be expected to provide the Committee a ten (10) minute presentation outlining the merits of the proposed project on August 13th, 2026. After presentations, Committee members may ask questions of the applicant. The Committee will rank the selected projects by a formal vote. A final project list and ranking will be announced at the Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative Steering Committee meeting on October 21st, 2026. Subsequently, the ranked project list will be recommended to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners for inclusion into its annual legislative agenda. Each LWLI member entity is also encouraged to adopt and support the LWLI legislative funding request.

​Administrative Process
After final ranking and recommendation to the LWLI Steering Committee, the County will take the lead in development of the appropriation project request forms for the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives. These forms will be shared for review by the applicants and their lobbying teams, after which the County will take the lead on submittal, lobbying efforts and the identification of appropriate legislative project sponsors. Projects will be funded in  order of ranking until all available funds are encumbered. If a ranked project does not receive funding, it can be re-submitted the following year for ranking. Funding becomes available July 1, 2027, and requires each organization to enter into a contractual agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis for project completion. Work conducted prior to July 1, 2027, may not be eligible for  reimbursement. Funded projects, upon request, may be asked to present to the LWLI within 3 years of project implementation.​


2026/27 Timeline ​(Funding for FY2027)
Note: Dates are subject to change.

  • May 1 - July 31, 2026 Application Period
  • August 13, 2026 Selection Committee Meeting, Applicant Presentations and Ranking
  • October 21, 2026 LWLI Steering Committee Meeting & Announce Project Ranking
  • July 1, 2027 Funding becomes available, FDEP will issued an agreement with a deadline for funds to be expended (12-24 months typically).​
    ​

​

Title: Funding Request
]]> System Account Fri, 05 Aug 2016 19:18:30 GMT https://discover.pbc.gov/erm/LWLagoon/Funding-Request.aspx