Dori Slosberg Driving Safety Mini-Grant Program

The Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act Mini-Grant Program is administered by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners to support driver education safety programs in both public and private schools within the county. This initiative stems from a county ordinance, Ordinance 02-17, which was enacted on June 18, 2002, based on Florida Statute 318.1215. The statute authorizes counties to collect an additional $5 surcharge with each civil traffic penalty. These funds are dedicated to improving driver safety education through a localized competitive grant process. The funds collected are administered by the St. Lucie County Clerk & Comptroller and distributed annually through mini-grants. The purpose of this grant is to strengthen driver education efforts for young drivers, aiming to improve road safety and reduce accidents. Funding is restricted to direct educational expenses and explicitly cannot be used for administrative costs. Each driver education program that receives funding under this initiative must include a minimum of 30 percent of student program time in behind-the-wheel training. This stipulation ensures that hands-on driving experience is a core component of all funded curricula. Grant awards are determined through a competitive process based on the perceived success and strength of the proposed driver education program. The amount of each award will depend on the total number of qualified applicants and the availability of funds at the time of selection. A maximum of $50,000 can be awarded to any single applicant. This cap ensures a fair distribution of funds across multiple applicants. There is no specified minimum award amount, and the total available funding for the current cycle has not been disclosed. Eligible applicants are public and non-public (private) schools located within St. Lucie County. These schools must offer driver education programs that comply with the statutory requirements outlined in the Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act. The program does not specify eligibility for individuals, organizations outside the education system, or entities outside the geographic bounds of St. Lucie County. The application process requires eligible institutions to download and complete the application form from the St. Lucie County Dori Slosberg Driving Safety Mini-Grant Program webpage. Alternatively, physical forms are available at the Office of Management & Budget, located at 2300 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce, FL 34982. The final deadline for submitting completed applications is August 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Late applications will not be considered. Interested applicants can seek more information by calling the Office of Management & Budget at 772-462-1670. Final award decisions are made once annually by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners. All submissions will be evaluated primarily on the proposed program’s potential for success, as defined by the inclusion of behind-the-wheel training and alignment with direct education goals.