University of West Florida & Florida APEX Accelerator State Office Intent for Application Announcement

The University of West Florida (UWF) and the Florida Small Business Development Center State Office (State Office), collectively referred to as the “Grantor,” are excited to announce that the 2026 Florida APEX Accelerator Application for Funding is anticipated to open mid-September 2025, with an expected close date in mid-October 2025. Applications are open only to current Florida APEX Accelerators in the Florida SBDC Network (FSBDCN or “Network”). To be considered for participation, applicants must follow the process outlined below.

Application Process:

Commencing for the 2026 APEX Accelerator program year (April 1, 2026, to March 21, 2027), the network will introduce a new application process for regional host applicants. Key requirements of this process include:

  • Completion of the Intent to Apply form by September 26, 2025

Once an application is reviewed and accepted, and the Department of Defense Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is released (expected late September), an APEX Accelerator Application for Funding will be released for host institution completion with a projected budget.

Supplemental Documents:

Governing Authority

The authority governing the APEX Accelerator program in Florida includes the following:

  • Federal statutes 2 CFR Part 200, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards” (2 CFR 1104, 2 CFR 1126)
  • Federal regulations (including the DoD Grant and Agreement Regulations (DoDGARs)
  • APEX Accelerator Award-Specific Terms and Conditions Version V 6.0 (September 2025)
  • APEX Accelerator Program General Terms and Conditions Version V 4.0 (September 2025)
  • Recipient’s negotiated and approved Program Execution Plan and Budget.

Where there are any conflicts, the precedence is as follows: federal law, state law, and Florida APEX Accelerator documents.

 Questions & More Information

For further information or questions, please email apply@flapex.org. Responses to questions will be added here as they are received.

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