The ECHO Grants-in-Aid is a "bricks-and-mortar" program, providing grant funds to finance acquisition, restoration, construction, or improvement of facilities to be used for environmental/ecological, cultural, historical/heritage, or outdoor recreation purposes that must be open for public use. Applicants to the ECHO Grants-in-Aid program must be a designated Not-for-Profit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the State of Florida, for a minimum of two years, with their principal place of business located in the State of Florida. Not-for-Profit 501(c)(3) organizations with designation less than two years must demonstrate ten years of service within the County and their main office must be located within the county; municipalities located within Volusia County; or budgeted departments within Volusia County Government.

The next ECHO meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 28, 2010, in the County Council Chambers, TCK Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand.