Rural Infrastructure Fund

(Page Shortcut: www.FloridaJobs.org/RIF)

Program Summary

The Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) facilitates planning, preparing, and financing of infrastructure projects in rural communities to encourage job creation, capital investment and the strengthening and diversification of rural economies. RIF funds are often used by rural communities as a match for other infrastructure funding programs, such as those offered by the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant, United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development, and the United States Department of Commerce - Economic Development Administration.

Fiscal Year 2023-2024 RIF Available Funding

$25 million was made available through RIF for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024 – Of this funding, $20 million for eligible rural communities statewide, and $5 million specifically for rural communities in the Florida Panhandle. These funds were fully awarded in December 2023.

In November 2023, the Florida Legislature passed, and Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law, new legislation allocating an additional $5 million to the RIF program to fund projects in Hurricane Idalia impacted communities. The following counties, and municipalities within these counties, are eligible to apply: Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor.

FY 2023-2024 RIF Application Cycle for Hurricane Idalia Impacted Communities

The FY 2023-2024 RIF application cycle for Hurricane Idalia impacted communities opened on December 15, 2023, and will close on February 5, 2024.

Interested applicants must register to request a personalized link to the online FY 2023-2024 RIF Application Portal. Each application to be submitted must be requested separately.

Applications will be reviewed upon closing of the application cycle and awards will be recommended based on application completeness, eligibility, and statutory factors for funding consideration. 

RIF Hurricane Idalia Application Webinar

FloridaCommerce hosted a webinar on January 9, 2024, to provide an overview of the RIF application process and provide technical assistance for Hurricane Idalia impacted communities.

• FY 2023-2024 RIF Hurricane Idalia Application Webinar
• FY 2023-2024 RIF Hurricane Idalia Application Webinar Slide Deck

• FY 23-24 RIF Hurricane Idalia Program Guidelines
• FY 2023-2024 RIF Hurricane Idalia Specific Appropriation Application Form and Instructions (PDF)
• FY 2023-2024 RIF Hurricane Idalia Specific Appropriation Application Form and Instructions (Microsoft Word)
• Participating Party Information Form

Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Grant Application Cycle and Submission Information

The FY 2023-2024 RIF application cycle opened September 13, 2023, and closed on November 6, 2023.

FloridaCommerce hosted a webinar on September 19, 2023, to provide an overview of the RIF application process and provide technical assistance.

• FY 2023-2024 RIF Application Webinar
• FY 2023-2024 RIF Application Webinar Slide Deck

• FY 2023-2024 RIF Program Guidelines
• FY 2023-2024 RIF Statewide Application Form and Instructions (PDF)
• FY 2023-2024 RIF Statewide Application Form and Instructions (Microsoft Word)
• Participating Party Information Form

Grant Categories

Total Project Participation Grants:

To facilitate access and maximize the use of state, federal, local and private resources, grants may be awarded for up to 75 percent of the total infrastructure project cost, or up to 100 percent for a project located in a rural community as defined in s. 288.0656 (2) which is also located in a fiscally constrained county as defined in s. 218.67 (1) or a rural area of opportunity as defined in s. 288.0656 (2).

 Eligible uses of funds include:

• Improvements to public infrastructure for industrial or commercial sites;
• Upgrades to or development of public tourism infrastructure;
• Improvements to inadequate infrastructure that has resulted in regulatory action.

Project Planning and Preparation Grants:

To facilitate timely response and induce the location or expansion of specific job creating opportunities, grants may be awarded for infrastructure feasibility studies, design and engineering activities, or other infrastructure planning and preparation activities. Grants awarded under this category may be used in conjunction with Total Project Participation grants.

• Up to $300,000 can be awarded for infrastructure feasibility studies, design and engineering activities, or other infrastructure planning and preparation activities.

Preclearance Review Grants:

To enable rural communities to access the resources available under the Expedited Permitting - Preclearance Review Process (Section 403.973(18), Florida Statutes), grants may be awarded for surveys, feasibility studies, and other activities related to the identification and preclearance review of land which is suitable for preclearance review. Maximum amounts and match requirements:

• Projects located outside a Rural Area of Opportunity - $75,000 with 50 percent local funds match.
• Projects located within a Rural Area of Opportunity - $300,000
• Projects located within a catalyst site (as defined in Section 288.0656, Florida Statutes): maximum amounts same as above. Local funds match requirements may be waived pursuant to the process in Section 288.06561, Florida Statutes.

RIF Program Additional Information and Resources

• Florida's Designated Rural Areas of Opportunity
• Community Profiles and Demographics
• Local Area Unemployment Statistics

For questions or requests for technical assistance regarding the RIF program, proposed projects, or completion and submission of applications, please email RIF@Commerce.fl.gov.