(1) The Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program is created within the department to fund, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, proposed projects that support supply chain innovation.
(2) The department shall accept applications from ports listed in s. 311.09(1); class I, II, or III freight railroads; public airports as defined in s. 330.27; and intermodal logistics centers or inland ports as defined in s. 311.101(2). (3)(a) The department shall collaborate with the Department of Transportation 1to review applications submitted and select projects for awards which create strategic investments in infrastructure to increase capacity and address freight mobility to meet the economic development goals of the state. (b) Priority must be given to projects with innovative plans, advanced technologies, and development strategies that focus on future growth and economic prosperity of the supply chain across the state.
(c) The department, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, must adopt selection criteria that include, but are not limited to, consideration of the project’s:1. Consistency with plans and studies produced by the department, the Department of Transportation, or another state entity.
2. Direct increase in efficiency in the delivery of goods.
3. Improvement of freight mobility access while reducing congestion. This may include overnight truck parking at rest areas, weigh stations, and intermodal logistics centers.
4. Increase of fuel storage and distribution capacity across the state, including, but not limited to, petroleum, hydrogen, ethanol, and natural gas located at seaports and spaceports.
5. Ability to secure a sustainable logistics transportation network throughout this state.
6. Development of connections to multimodal transportation systems.
7. Ability to address emerging supply chain and transportation industry challenges.
(d) A public or private entity seeking to develop and establish vertiports in this state may also apply to the department for funding. For purposes of this subsection, the term “vertiport” means a system or infrastructure with supporting services and equipment used for landing, ground handling, and takeoff of manned or unmanned vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
(4) A minimum of a one-to-one match of nonstate resources, including local, federal, or private funds, to the state contribution is required. An award may not be made for a project that is receiving or using state funding from another state source or statutory program, including tax credits. The one-to-one match requirement is waived for a public entity located in a fiscally constrained county as defined in s. 218.67(1). (5) Applicants may seek funding for capital expenditures and operations, but grant funding awarded under this section may not be used to pay salary and benefits or general business or office expenses. A project may not be awarded the entirety of any appropriation in a fiscal year.
(6) The Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce shall jointly select projects for award. Grants awarded under this program shall be administered by the department.
(7) The Department of Commerce, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation, shall annually provide a list of each project awarded, the benefit of each project in meeting the goals and objectives of the program, and the current status of each project. The department shall include such information in its annual incentives report required under 2s. 20.0065. (8) The department may adopt rules to implement this section.
(9) This section expires June 30, 2034.
