Volusia County raises ECHO award caps, requires fuller applications and rolls out an online portal for 2026 cycle

Daniel Marsh, ECHO manager, told a packed ECHO workshop that County Council approved significant policy changes for the 2026 grant cycle, raising the award cap and streamlining budget administration.

"The main the big 1 is the cap has been increased from 600,000, to $2,500,000," Marsh said, adding that the program eliminated the exceptional grant category and raised the per‑project lifetime cap to $5,000,000. Marsh said the county has funded nearly 290 ECHO projects totaling about $283,000,000 to date.

Why it matters: The higher award and lifetime caps expand the size of projects that can seek county funds and give applicants greater flexibility on large facility projects. Marsh also said staff-level approval is now allowed for certain non‑scope budget changes, a change intended to speed adjustments that previously required advisory committee and council action.

Staff emphasized new application requirements and deadlines. Daniel Marsh and Jill Markham, ECHO administrative specialist, walked applicants through required materials — including a project‑specific business plan, feasibility study, marketing plan, and a complete set of 100% drawings where applicable. Marsh repeated the agency’s deadline schedule: the technical (draft) application is due June 11, the final application is due July 16, advisory committee site tours are planned Aug. 13, scoring occurs Aug. 27, and council awards are expected in October.

"Drawings are required from all applicants," Marsh said when participants asked whether remodels and restroom projects need MEP and civil plans.

Marsh and staff also described match rules and funding structure: ECHO is a dollar‑for‑dollar match program, with four match categories (unencumbered cash, previously spent cash up to seven years prior and specific to the project, in‑kind services documented by notarized donor letters or agreements, and land match capped at 25% of an applicant’s match). Marsh reviewed cash‑share thresholds tied to organizational operating budget size.

On administration, staff introduced the county’s Experience Cloud portal (volusiacountyservices.my.site.com) to accept registrations, draft and final applications, budgets, quarterly and annual reports, and reimbursement requests. Rochelle Hoffman led a portal demonstration and navigation training during the workshop, showing how to self‑register, upload files, use the 'save for later' link for draft applications, and submit budget forms.

The ECHO award is reimbursable: applicants pay project expenses up front and request reimbursement by submitting invoices and proof of payment. Marsh explained the procedural steps after council approval: the county will record a restrictive covenant at the clerk of court, applicants must file insurance and a performance bond, and staff will issue a notice to proceed (NTP) after those items are accepted. "Usually within 60 days," Marsh said when asked how long it takes to receive NTP after council approval, noting timing depends on how quickly applicants file required documents.

Staff covered compliance and monitoring: projects are subject to construction monitoring, post‑completion site visits roughly every two years, and 20 years of restrictive covenant reporting and compliance. Marsh explained the payback mechanism for noncompliance (full payback in the first half of the covenant; a pro‑rated formula in the second half).

Staff also reviewed project signage rules (temporary and permanent signs must show the county and ECHO logos; signage is paid from match funds, not ECHO grants), clarified what project types qualify under the ECHO mission (acquisition, restoration, improvement/construction, outdoor recreation), and answered extensive applicant questions about historic restorations, whether multiple buildings can be treated as separate projects, and how to document match.

What’s next: staff encouraged applicants to use May for one‑on‑one technical assistance and to submit questions through the portal’s chatter feature. The training video and supporting materials will be posted to the portal and emailed to attendees. Marsh closed by reminding applicants not to begin construction until they receive an NTP and noting staff will assist applicants through the application and technical review process.

Sources: statements and guidance provided by Daniel Marsh (ECHO manager), Nick Dunham (resource stewardship director for Volusia County), Jill Markham (ECHO administrative specialist), and Rochelle Hoffman (portal trainer) during the Volusia County ECHO workshop.