Key Colony Beach

Monroe County, Florida

Key Colony Beach is located in Monroe County, Florida, in the Heart of the Florida Keys. There are just over 800 residents in Key Colony Beach, but the population peaks to about 4,000 in mid-winter.  The city, known as the “Gem of the Florida Keys,” is on an island just south of what is known locally as the Overseas Highway. 

The majority of Key Colony Beach residences are on canals with quick access to the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean, or have ocean views. This makes the city ideal for fishing and boating activities. In addition to residential areas, there are many businesses in the city, including restaurants, a charter fishing fleet, a marina, boat rentals, a clothing store, a gift shop, a dive and tackle shop, liquor store, gas station, convenience store, hotels, and real estate offices. Recreational facilities include 4 parks, 2 playgrounds, bocce courts, pickleball courts, tennis courts, shuffleboard, and a 9-hole par-3 golf course.

Key Colony Beach, which is situated on 286 acres, was developed in the early fifties by founder Phil Sadowski and was incorporated in September 1957. Most of the islands in the Florida Keys are 3-5 feet above sea level and, because of the many hundreds of miles of shoreline, this region is considered by many to be ground zero for experiencing flooding and the impacts of sea level rise. Monroe County recently updated elevation maps that show the effects of local sea level rise, using sea level rise predictions provided from the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.

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Which characteristics is your community looking for in funding opportunities?

Disaster declaration
A Presidential Disaster Declaration unlocks a suite of federal programs that assist local governments with disaster recovery. This is a good filter for communities included in recent Disaster Declarations related to flooding.
Nature-based solutions
The program has a strong focus on providing assistance to promote a healthy ecosystem as a critical defense against flooding impacts. Eligible activities may include floodplain restoration, environmental stewardship, projects that use natural features to mitigate erosion, and living shorelines.
Encourages public-private partnerships
The program encourages or requires collaboration between government entities and stakeholders, including the private sector, to fund, develop, or implement projects.
Offers rolling deadlines
The program accepts applications on an ongoing basis with no fixed deadline.

Is your project in the planning, design, or construction phase?

Planning
The gathering of data and information regarding the extent and impacts of flooding. Eligible activities may include data acquisition, risk assessment, and environmental analysis.
Design & scoping
Covers pre-construction activities, such as defining project scope, developing technical designs, and securing funding to prepare for implementation.
Construction & implementation
Involves carrying out flood resilience projects, including building infrastructure and deploying solutions to reduce flood risks.

Are you looking for grants, loans, or technical assistance for your project?

Funding (grants)
A monetary award that does not need to be repaid. Many federal grants are reimbursable, meaning recipients must cover project costs upfront and then request reimbursement from the government.
Financing (loans)
A government-issued loan that must be repaid. These loans typically provide funding upfront, helping communities cover project costs before repayment begins.
Technical assistance
Assistance from the government in the form of services — such as project planning, engineering and design support, data analysis, training, capacity building, or collaboration through a cooperative agreement — instead of direct funding.

Some programs provide extra support for specific project types or communities. Do any of these apply to your project?

Small or rural communities
Programs that set aside funding, offer loan forgiveness, or adjust cost share requirements for communities with smaller populations.
Small or low-cost projects
Programs that offer reduced requirements for smaller projects, such as waived cost-sharing or exemptions from benefit-cost analysis.
Regional or watershed focus
Programs that support projects that take a watershed management approach or address flooding at a regional scale, requiring coordination beyond a single town or community.
Tribal communities
Programs that dedicate resources or adjust cost share requirements specifically for tribal governments or organizations.

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