Emergency Medical Services Grants

Section 401.113, Florida Statutes, gives the Florida Department of Health authority to dispense funds contained in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Trust Fund to counties through county, matching, and rural grants. These grants are to improve and expand prehospital emergency medical services in the state.

Funds deposited into the EMS Trust Fund are dispensed annually as follows:

County Disbursements
Forty-five percent of the monies are divided among Florida’s 67 counties according to the proportion of the combined amount deposited in the trust fund from the county. These funds may not be used to match grant funds.

Matching/Rural Grants
Forty percent of the monies are available to local agencies, municipalities, emergency medical services organizations, and youth athletic organizations for the purpose of conducting research, increasing existing levels of emergency medical services, evaluation, community education, injury-prevention programs, and training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other lifesaving and first aid techniques.

• Matching Grants: Ninety percent of the monies are available on a cash matching basis. Matching grants are contingent upon the recipient providing a cash sum equal to 25% of the total grant amount approved by the Department. For example, if an agency is awarded $10,000, the Department would provide $7,500 (75%) to the agency and the recipient’s required contribution would be $2,500 (25%).

• Rural Grants: Ten percent of the monies are available to rural EMS agencies. These monies may also be used for improvement, expansion, or continuation of services provided. and may require up to a 10% match. 

Fiscal Year 2024-25 EMS County Funds 

Paragraph (a) of Subsection 401.113(2), Florida Statutes

ANNOUNCEMENT: Fiscal Year 2024-25 EMS county funds will be distributed directly to each county’s Board of County Commissioners by direct disbursement. This process does not require counties to submit a grant application or a Board of County Commissioners resolution.

EMS county funds will be distributed starting in December 2024. Once the Board of County Commissioners receives the funds, they will have the authority to distribute the funds as they see fit to improve and enhance prehospital care in their jurisdiction.

Reporting Requirements: Counties will NOT be required to submit quarterly and final reports to the Department regarding EMS county funds received through this process. Record-keeping for these funds will be solely the responsibility of the recipient.

Fiscal Year 2024-25 EMS Matching/Rural Grants 

Paragraph (b) of Subsection 401.113(2), Florida Statutes

ANNOUNCEMENT: Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 EMS matching and rural grants have been awarded.

• FY 2024-25 EMS Matching Grant Awards FAR Notice
• FY 2024-25 Awarded Matching Grants
• FY 2024-25 Not Awarded Matching Grants

The FY 2024-25 EMS matching and rural grant cycle is now closed. We expect to begin accepting new matching grant applications for the 2025-2026 cycle by the third quarter of this calendar year. Please check back periodically for the most current information. 

Post-Execution Forms 

Please use the following forms when submitting quarterly reports or change requests:

• Expenditure Report
• Change Request Form