By Tim Croft
A second pot of RESTORE Act funds has suddenly become a planning priority for Gulf County officials.
When those discussions will take place has yet to be determined
The Gulf Coast Consortium, which represents the 23 coastal counties impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, will be seeking plans from counties on how they intend to spend their share.
And the Consortium wants those plans in the next two-three months, said Chris Holley, executive director of the Gulf County Economic Development Alliance.
The Consortium met during the recent Florida Association of Counties annual meeting.
Formed in fall 2012, the Consortium's dollars are so-called "Pot 3" funds, as opposed to the county's direct allocation, so-called "Pot 1."
Earlier this year, the Consortium board voted to divide the $293 million coming from BP fines equally among each county.
For Gulf County and the other 22 counties, that means roughly $12.5 million over the next 15 years, roughly $800,000 per year.
That is addition to the pot one money the county will receive: roughly $1 million to $1.5 million over the next 15 year after a $2.8 million allocation in year one, or 2017.
As with the county's direct allocation, the Consortium in required to submit a plan on how the $293 million will be spent.
Gov. Rick Scott has expressed the hope that the Consortium will undertake large regional projects with its funds.
As with Dewberry, LLC and Gulf County, the Consortium, hired the consulting firm Environmental Science Associates (ESA), with subcontractor Langton Associates, to provide grant management services and to assist counties in identifying projects that would meet eligibility guidelines to receive the money.
To be eligible, projects must fall under specific guidelines which include restoration and/or protection of natural resources, mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife and natural resources, improvements to state parks located in coastal areas impacted by the spill and planning assistance among other criteria.
Staff from Langton will be visiting each of the 23 counties between now and September to help county officials to identify projects that meet the criteria.