Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy briefed the Gulf County Board on a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant and outreach through the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. The presentation outlined financial and land‑management assistance available to rural landowners in the Big Bend, including Gulf County properties larger than 10 acres.

Ben Nacelius, speaking for Tall Timbers, described the RCPP as a five‑year, $25 million USDA grant that provides cost‑share assistance (75–100 percent for certain practices) and land‑management support such as prescribed fire, invasive species treatment and habitat management. He said the program opens Sept. 3 and closes Oct. 3 for initial sign‑ups and that Tall Timbers would do a marketing push including mailers, radio and social media to reach landowners.

Nacelius also described a partnership with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation to connect landowners to technical assistance and incentives for corridor conservation work. He asked commissioners to help the conservancy get the word out; commissioners suggested coordinating with extension and county partners to promote the program.

Formal action: None. Commissioners suggested Tall Timbers coordinate with the county extension office and staff to publicize the opportunity.

Why it matters: The RCPP funding and technical support could enable landowners to implement conservation practices at low cost, affecting land‑management and wildfire‑resilience in rural parts of Gulf County.