Here in Florida, there are a variety of different government programs available to help promote growth and development in agricultural and residential areas. Programs include:

Household Water Well System Grants

Offered by the USDA’s Rural Development division, the Household Water Well System Grant program is designed to help qualified nonprofit organizations and tribes create reliable access to clean water in rural areas. Addresses in Okeechobee are eligible to apply.

If awarded, grant funds can be used by a nonprofit to create a loan fund to build, refurbish, or service household water well systems that are individually owned in qualified areas.

Nonprofits that apply need to meet the following qualifications:

• Expertise with promoting correct usage of household water well systems
• Legal ability to act as a lender
• Capacity to comply with all relevant federal state laws and regulations

Farm Loan Programs

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency has created a series of Farm Loan Programs to offer opportunities to family-sized farms and ranchers to help them start or improve their operations, to help young people who are involved with agricultural youth organizations who are in need of financial assistance, and to help farmers who are part of a racial minority.

Types of Farm Loans available include:

• Direct Operating Loans
• Microloans
• Direct Farm Ownership Loans
• Guaranteed Loans
• Youth Loans
• Minority and Women Farmers and Ranchers Loans
• Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loans
• Emergency Loans
• Native American Tribal Loans

Districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share

If you’re living in the St. Johns area, the St. Johns River Water Management District is offering a cost-sharing program which is designed to engage farmers and ranchers in the area to work together towards more effective water conservation and reducing soil nutrient run-off.

For those who qualify, cost-share can be up to 75%, but not exceeding $250,000 annually, for the design and implementation costs for approved projects.

Eligible projects include:

• Irrigation system retrofits
• Soil moisture and climate sensor telemetry
• Rainwater harvesting
• Subirrigation drain tile
• Tailwater Recovery and reuse
• Soil mapping
• Expanded waste storage

With nearly a century of experience serving homes and businesses throughout the Okeechobee area, you can trust Domer’s always to provide the absolute best service when it comes to your industrial and agricultural needs. For any questions about available government assistance programs, contact us today at 863-763-3417.