**** ATTENTION SPECIAL CATEGORY GRANT APPLICANTS! ****
On September 15, 2009, the Florida Historical Commission voted to recommend a priority list of 39 applications rolled over from the 2009 fiscal year be funded for 2011. The priority list is in its original ranked order from the 2009 grant review. The Secretary of State approved this list on September 18, 2009, and it will be submitted to the 2010 legislative session in March.
The next Special Category grant cycle will begin July 1, 2010 with applications due by August 31, 2010.

Departments or agencies of the state (including universities), cities, counties and other units of local government, and not-for-profit organizations.
For the 2012 fiscal year, the application solicitation period will begin on July 1, 2010 and end on August 31, 2010. Applications must be electronically submitted and postmarked by August 31. If appropriated, funds will be available after July 1, 2011.
All applications are evaluated in the Fall on a competitive basis by the Florida Historical Commission. The applications are evaluated on historic significance, endangerment, appropriateness of the preservation treatment proposed, appropriateness of the interpretive exhibit plan, administrative capability of the organization, adequacy of technical and financial resources, educational potential, economic benefits, and public good resulting from the project. The Florida Historical Commission's recommendations are submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. The approved list is sent to the Florida Legislature for consideration as part of the Department of State's annual budget request.
The majority of the Special Category grant awards are in the $50,000 to $350,000 range. The match requirement for Special Category grants is the greater of $50,000 or 50% of the amount requested. The match for applicants in REDI counties or communities is 10% of the amount requested.