Elevate Florida: FDEM's Residential Mitigation Program

Inspection and Assessment Services

FDEM has awarded a pool of Vendors to provide Inspection and Assessment services for the Elevate Florida Program. Link to Notice of Intent to Award in the Vendor Information Portal (VIP) on My Florida Marketplace: https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/search/bids/detail/12312

Construction Services

FDEM is seeking to establish a pool of qualified Contractors to provide Construction Services to implement the statewide residential mitigation grant program, Elevate Florida. Please see the solicitation documents at the following My Florida Marketplace link: https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/search/bids/detail/12703

FDEM hosted a Pre-Bid Conference on Monday, May 19, 2025 at 11 AM ET to give vendors an opportunity to learn about the program and ask questions. Please visit the following to view the recording: Pre-Bid Conference Recording. All questions should be submitted to the Procurement Officer by the deadline outline in the RFQ on MFMP.

 

Timelines vary based on project type, with some projects taking up to two years. There are five stages with estimated time periods of:

·      Stage 1 Application Submittal: February 2025 – April 2025

o   Elevate Florida accepted applications from February 7 to April 11, 2025. The program received more than 12,000 applications from residents in 64 Florida counties, demonstrating significant interest from Florida residents. 

o   When submitting their project applications, applicants selected from four project types: Structure Elevation, Mitigation Reconstruction, Wind Mitigation, and Acquisition/Demolition. 

·      Stage 2 Application Review: April 2025 – December 2025

o   All Property Owners will receive an update on their application by the end of August.  

o   The Elevate Florida application review process evaluates whether an application is complete and meets all requirements before it is sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for funding determination.  

o   Elevate Florida prioritizes applications based on specific criteria. This process occurs on rolling basis, so applications progress at different times. For details, see Figure 1: Prioritization Factors below.

o   Each applicant is assigned a Case Manager. A Case Manager may request additional information or documents, such as a Notice of Voluntary Interest, Right of Entry Waiver, Privacy Act Release, and other forms. It is important that the Property Owner returns the documentation on time to meet the deadlines set by their Case Manager.  

o   If selected to proceed, the Property Owner will need to sign a Pre-Mitigation Agreement (PMA) and a Cost-share Remittance Form and provide a payment for their cost-share of the initial assessments. Pre-construction assessments are scheduled, completed, and the reports are shared with the Property Owner. Note that signing the PMA, paying the inspection cost-share, and receiving an inspection report, does not mean that an application has been selected for Elevate Florida. This determination comes later. 

o   A Duplication of Benefits (DOB) review is conducted to evaluate whether the applicant has already received federal assistance for the same purpose. This includes evaluating insurance payments, legal settlements, or forthcoming financial assistance that has not yet been received, will be received, or is available from another source. A Duplication of Benefits Information Guide is available under the Additional Resources dropdown.

o   After pre-construction inspections are complete, Elevate Florida collects all necessary documentation to build and finalize your grant application. During this time, Elevate Florida completes the required components of your Federal grant application, including project mapping, a scope of work, and an estimated budget. A Case Manager will share a total project estimate with the Property Owner.

o   When your grant application is finalized, it is sent to the FDEM State Review Team for review ahead of submittal to FEMA. The Review Team will complete a Programmatic, Engineering, and Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) review for grant eligibility and compliance. The Elevate Florida team will work closely with the State Review Team to meet all grant requirements and pass State Review.

 

Figure 1: Prioritization Factors

·       Stage 3 Decision and Approval: July 2025 – March 2026

o   Following State approval, Elevate Florida submits prioritized applications to FEMA for funding approval on a rolling basis. Elevate Florida works closely with FEMA to answer any questions that may arise. Once FEMA makes a determination regarding a project’s funding, the Property Owner will receive an email or letter notifying them of the outcome. It typically takes FEMA an average of four months to make a decision after an application is submitted for their review. However, this timeframe is an estimate and will vary depending on the number of applications received and the complexity of each application.   

o   Every application must also pass an EHP review, which is FEMA's review process for ensuring the protection and enhancement of environmental, historic, and cultural resources. This may require a more detailed assessment and extend the review timeline. For more guidance on EHP, please visit the Property Owner Support Library in the Elevate Florida portal.

o   If a project is awarded, Elevate Florida selects an approved construction vendor and creates a detailed budget that includes construction, inspections, and temporary housing (if needed).

o   Before construction can begin, the Property Owner needs to sign the Homeowner Grant Agreement – a contract between FDEM and the Property Owner(s). Through this agreement, the Property Owner(s) agree to the scope of services, including construction services delivered by the construction vendor. This agreement will include the total project cost, Federal cost-share, and Property Owners' cost-share. 

o   During construction, the Property Owner and their family may need to temporarily relocate from their home. For Property Owners in Elevation and Mitigation Reconstruction projects, temporary relocation is covered by the program. Tenants in Elevation, Mitigation Reconstruction, and Acquisition/Demolition projects who qualify for Uniform Relocation Assistance (URA) are also eligible for temporary relocation services. Property Owners will be given a temporary relocation cost estimate and can opt in or opt out of temporary relocation services before signing the Homeowner Grant Agreement.

·      Stage 4 Construction: September 2025 – December 2026

o   Elevate Florida will assign a construction vendor, who will then conduct a bid walk or design meeting. Depending on the type of project, the Property Owner may be required to attend.

o   The construction phase for Elevate Florida projects may begin after the Homeowner Grant Agreement is signed, the Property Owner’s cost-share is received, and occupants have temporarily relocated, when required.

o   For Acquisition/Demolition projects, the Property Owner signs the contract to transfer ownership of the property to the local community. Compensation is based on the fair market value of the home determined during the application review phase, less the 25 percent cost-share for legal fees, demolition costs, tenant temporary housing (as applicable), and the cost-share for the actual acquisition itself.

o   Throughout the Construction phase of Elevation, Mitigation Reconstruction, and Wind Mitigation projects, independent inspectors check that the work meets safety codes, project guidelines, and grant requirements. 

o   After construction is complete, a final inspection takes place to confirm the project meets all Florida Building Code guidelines, grant requirements and local building codes and regulations. The Property Owner can return home once their local building official issues a Certificate of Occupancy (CO), certifying their home is safe for occupancy.

o   Property Owners will receive a closeout packet containing the necessary documentation. Property Owners must provide proof of an updated and satisfactory National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insurance policy before the grant can officially close out.

·      Stage 5 Closeout: January 2027+

o   During the final stage, Elevate Florida will conduct a final review to confirm all project activities, documentation, and financial requirements have been completed in accordance with the corresponding grant guidelines then work with FEMA to finalize the project closeout.  

 

Federal grant funding will cover 75 percent of the project’s cost, meaning Property Owners will need to invest 25 percent of their own funds into the project. The Property Owner must sign a Pre-Mitigation Agreement for Elevate Florida inspection and design services with FDEM, which will provide an estimate of the initial inspection costs. With this agreement, the Property Owner accepts and agrees to the cost-share requirement to fund initial inspections. The cost-share for pre-construction inspections is required to prepare your application for Federal submission and help determine next steps for your property; Property Owners will be required to provide 25 percent of initial inspection costs prior to inspections being completed.

 

Upon FEMA project approval, the Property Owner will receive a detailed breakdown of their construction cost-share. They will have time to decide whether to proceed to the next stage before signing the Homeowner Grant Agreement and providing the construction cost-share. Property Owners will be required to pay 25 percent of the cost-share for Structural Elevation, Mitigation Reconstruction, and Wind Mitigation projects; however, cost-share for Acquisition/Demolition projects will be deducted from the offer price. Cost-share will also include temporary relocation costs (where applicable) and will be collected at contract signing. Factors such as project type, the size of the living space, foundation or construction type, and necessary project activities (such as design and temporary relocation costs) all impact the overall project cost.

Please note: FEMA policy limits federal funding to $220,000 (hard costs only) for Mitigation Reconstruction projects. This limit does not cover costs like engineering, permits, surveys, or ADA accommodations. Property Owners will need to pay for any extra costs beyond this $220,000 amount. This limit only applies to Mitigation Reconstruction projects, not to Structural Elevation, Acquisition/Demolition, or Wind Mitigation projects.

No additional assistance is available from the State of Florida to cover the Property Owner’s project cost (25 percent) responsibilities for Elevate Florida. Property Owners can utilize various funding options to cover their project cost-share, including personal savings or securing loans. In addition, they may use funds from a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover the Property Owner cost-share for mitigation activities. Property owners may also seek assistance from county programs or other entities such as voluntary or nonprofit organizations.

 

NFIP policy holders may be eligible to receive funding through NFIP, if they qualify for Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC). ICC consists of up to $30,000 coverage, which is a part of most standard flood insurance policies under the NFIP to assist in reducing out of pocket costs for eligible activities and may contribute to the cost-share required by the Property Owner. All Property Owners with active NFIP policies will sign the Assignment of Coverage D form during the application process. Elevate Florida will work with NFIP, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to file claims for mitigation activities for policies eligible to receive funds. Funds received from NFIP may be utilized to offset the Property Owner cost-share. In cases where the Property Owner has no cost-share, or when the received funds exceed the Property Owner cost-share, the funds will be utilized to offset the federal share of the project.

 

For questions, technical support, or application assistance, submit inquiries through the “Contact Us” page on the portal or email info@elevatefl.org.

 

You can also call the Elevate Florida contact center Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET at 877-ELEV8FL (877-353-8835). TTY services are available by dialing 711.

The Elevate Florida program is proud to partner with communities across the state to expand mitigation efforts and help more Floridians protect their homes. Thanks to the commitment of the counties below, the program is able to leverage funds and maximize resources to assist additional families throughout these communities.

 

• Alachua 

• Brevard 

• Broward 

• Charlotte 

• Citrus 

• Collier 

• Columbia 

• DeSoto 

• Dixie 

• Duval 

• Flager 

• Hernando 

• Highlands 

• Hillsborough 

• Indian River 

• Lake 

• Lee 

• Leon 

• Levy 

• Liberty 

• Madison 

• Manatee 

• Martin 

• Miami-Dade 

• Nassau 

• Orange 

• Osceola 

• Palm Beach 

• Pasco 

• Polk 

• Sarasota 

• St. Johns 

• St. Lucie 

• Suwannee 

• Taylor 

• Union 

• Volusia 

 

Elevate Florida 

Frequently Asked Questions

Stay Informed and Recognize Scams

Duplication of Benefits Information Guide

Environmental and Historic Preservation Property Owner Guidance

• Elevate Florida Cumulative Final Public Notice
  • A Public Notice is required when states will be using federal funds to conduct activities that may be located within, affect, or be affected by floodplains or wetlands. The Cumulative Final Public Notice for the Elevate Florida Program was published on February 14, 2025.