Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grants Program topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County reports $58 grant applications and $11 million completed since FY2023; hires grant specialist and consultant
Summary
County finance staff reported 58 grant applications totaling roughly $70 million and $11 million in completed awards for fiscal years 2023–2025. The county has a grants specialist on staff and uses RMPK Funding Inc. as a consultant; commissioners discussed expanding grant management capacity and software.
Okeechobee County officials told the Board of County Commissioners on Thursday that the county’s grants program has grown substantially and that staff is seeking tools and procedures to manage awards.
Lisa (last name not specified), the county grants program lead, said the county has submitted 58 grant applications since fiscal 2023 totaling about $70 million and has completed projects totaling $11 million. She described two positions supporting the work: a county grants specialist (a county employee hired in fiscal 2023–24) and an external grants management firm, RMPK Funding Inc., under contract since 2021. RMPK provides grant preparation, administration and project selection support, Lisa said.
County Administrator and commissioners emphasized the program’s return on investment. The county’s internal summary presented grant revenue by fiscal year (examples cited by staff): about $6.1 million in FY2019, $5.1 million in FY2020, $8.6 million in FY2021, $19.2 million in FY2022 and $10.5 million in FY2023 (audit‑based figures).
Commissioners discussed expanding staff capacity and considered grant‑management software to track awards, reporting and compliance. Commissioner Burrows and County Administrator said many of the larger grants will require sustained project management to execute awards once received and emphasized the need for operational staff to deliver projects.
Several specific grant items were on the meeting’s consent agenda and approved: a $97,780 Edward Bryan Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) for the sheriff’s office; a $250,000 Florida Boating Improvement Program application for Cliff Betts Junior Lakeside Recreation Area (5% local match required); and a $5,147 appropriation from the Bulletproof Vest Partnership federal grant for Sheriff’s operations.
