FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Grants (State of Florida)

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Grants (State of Florida) is sponsored by State of Florida. The State of Florida provides grants to support FRC teams in the state, covering expenses such as registration fees, travel, and equipment.

**EGS FRC Competitive Edge Grant Deadline: February 1st, 2024** Competition is the perfect construct for cultivating a desire to excel; competition using robotics motivates students to excel in science, technology, engineering and math which will provide the next generation of innovators and leaders with the tools that are required to face the world’s challenges.

The FRC Competitive Edge Grant is intended to promote a high degree of competitiveness from teams coming from Brevard, Volusia, Orange, or Seminole County at the national level. The Competitive Edge Grant aims to achieve this by ensuring that FRC teams have access to the equipment and resources needed to field a competitive team.

The FRC Competitive Edge Grant provides teams with an opportunity to inform EGS of the equipment and resource that the team needs. Teams can propose specific items, including cost, which would benefit their teams the most. Justification for why the equipment is necessary and how it will enable competitiveness is mandatory for this grant; it will be used to select grant winners and award amounts.

Teams must propose a single award amount for their specific needs. Specific examples of equipment that might be proposed include but are not limited to: * COTs parts (parts purchased from vendors) * Organizational equipment * Travel expenses for events within Florida Teams are encouraged to participate in other fundraising activities and propose shared costs between the team and EGS.

For example, an FRC team may want a small $1000 manual mill to manufacture custom parts and they have fundraised $500. The team could propose that EGS cover the remaining $500. Teams must have their share of the funds prior to proposing cost sharing arrangements.

This is a chance to inform EGS of what you really need and why you need it. Teams must provide EGS with a detailed account of how EGS grant money was spent no later than May 31, 2024. The detailed account must include purchased item names, expense amounts, purchase dates and copies of receipts.

The FRC Competitive Edge Grant is available to all FRC teams within Brevard, Volusia, Orange, or Seminole County. **EGS FRC Champions Grant Deadline: March 1st, 2024** The FRC Champions Grant is intended to enable local FRC teams to participate in competitions beyond FRC Leagues. The FRC Champions Grant will cover event registration fees and potentially assist covering in travel expenses for eligible events.

The Champions Grant will cover the registration fee for the following events: Registration fees will be paid directly to the organization hosting the event. Teams may apply for the FRC Champions Grant each time they win a bid to the next level of game play. For example, if an FRC team makes it to Florida Championships and World Championships, they may apply for the FRC Champions Grant two times.

In addition to covering registration fees, the FRC Champions Grant is set up to potentially provide teams that win their way into World Championships with additional grant money to help offset travel costs. Teams should not rely on the Champions Grant as the sole funding source for travel expenses. If awarded, teams may use the travel costs portion of the FRC Champions Grant on travel expenses for the out of state event.

Travel expenses include airfare, hotel rooms, gasoline for team vehicles (e.g., school vans, personal vehicles used for towing team equipment), charter buses, shipping for team equipment, etc. Contact EGS if there are any questions about eligibility of expenses. Teams must provide EGS with a detailed account of how EGS grant money was spent no later than May 31, 2024.

The detailed account must include purchased item names, expense amounts, purchase dates and copies of receipts. The FRC Champions Grant is available to all FRC teams within Brevard, Volusia, Orange, or Seminole County. Teams may apply for the FRC Champions Grant regardless of whether or not they have applied for the FRC Rookie Team Grant, FRC Registration Grant, and/or FRC Competitive Edge Grant.