Stuart

Martin County, Florida

As both a city in and the county seat for Martin County, Florida, Stuart is located along Florida’s renowned Treasure Coast, north of Jupiter, and south of Port Saint Lucie.  The city typically averages a population of around 16,000 people, but experiences significant fluctuation during its tourism season in the colder months of the year.

Known as the “Sailfish Capital of the World,” and labeled a “coastal dreamtown” by Coastal Living Magazine, Stuart is famed for its historic and pedestrian-friendly downtown, vibrant waterfront, and fishing and other water-intensive pleasures. The city features a fine assortment of accommodations, dining options, recreational opportunities, state parks, and several museums including the Stuart Heritage Museum and the Road to Victory (World War II) Military Museum. Stuart is often mentioned among the best small towns to visit in the U.S.

Stuart’s idyllic location makes it such a sought after destination, but leaves it vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding.  In 2002, the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC) entered into a contract with the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council SWFRPC to conduct a study of sea level rise within the Treasure Coast Region. The report created maps of the Treasure Coast Region that distinguish the shores that are likely to need protection from erosion, inundation, and flooding.

In 2018, the city of Stuart joined the American Flood Coalition to further its efforts in mitigating the effects of sea level rise while working towards solutions that will protect the city and its residents, and the local environment.

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Help Me Choose

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.