Department of Commerce: Economic Development Assistance Program

Department of Commerce: Economic Development Assistance Program

This program provides funding that will promote economic development efforts to enhance the competitiveness in regions experiencing substantial and persistent economic distress, resulting in increased private investment and higher-skill, higher-wage jobs.

Funds Target Sustainability and Justice Issues

Threshold Foundation

The Threshold Foundation works to mobilize money, people, and power to create a more just, joyful, and sustainable world. For the 2009-2010 funding cycle, the Foundation will provide grants to nonprofit organizations through the following two grantmaking committees: The Sustainable Planet Committee will focus on community-based solutions for a sustainable world, local solutions for threatened biodiversity ecosystems worldwide, and climate change efforts to accelerate reduction of carbon emissions through carbon taxes or auctioned cap and trade policies within the United States. The Justice and Democracy Committee will focus on criminal justice reform efforts to address policies that negatively impact youth, drug policy reform to end drug laws that criminalize youth of color and to remove barriers to education for incarcerated youth, and models of building electoral power in historically underrepresented U.S. constituencies. Online letters of inquiry must be submitted by September 25, 2009. Detailed application guidelines are available on the Foundation's website.

Fish and Wildlife Service’s Midwest Region Fish Passage Program

Project proposals are due on or before November 6, 2009. Funds provided under this RFP may only be used for in-the-water activities, including engineering costs. There are approximately 15,300 dams over 6 feet high and hundreds of thousands of other smaller barriers to fish passage, such as perched culverts and road crossings, in our Region. Many of these barriers have a negative impact on fish and other native aquatic organisms, such as crayfish, freshwater mussels, and insects. Removing these barriers will enhance biodiversity and help restore healthy populations of aquatic species.

Small dam removals, perched culvert renovations, low water crossing improvements, rock ramp installations, stream grade control structure modifications, barrier inventories, and evaluation monitoring activities are eligible for funding. If your staff is interested in submitting a project proposal, please follow the attached guidance. Full proposals are due to Aaron_Woldt@fws.gov on or before COB November 6, 2009. Staff from partner agencies and Service staff from non-Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices (FWCO) interested in submitting a proposal must contact the appropriate FWCO to coordinate your proposal and to develop a Fisheries Operations Needs System (FONS) submission for your project. The geographic areas of responsibility and the primary points of contact for each FWCO are attached.
Thank you for your interest in the Midwest Region Fish Passage Program. Removing barriers and reconnecting rivers and streams is one of the most important things we can do to restore habitat for fish and other aquatic species.

If you have general questions about the Fish Passage Program or the proposal submission process, please contact:
Mr. Aaron Woldt, Fisheries Program Supervisor, at 612-713-5110. More information about the Region 3 Fish Passage Program can also be found at:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Fisheries/publications/r3-fishpassageprgm7-31-07.pdf.

Grant Opportunity: Healthy Watersheds through Healthy Forests

There's a grant opportunity from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities called Healthy Watersheds through Healthy Forests. The goal is to link water consumers with water producers in a long-term mutually beneficial relationship - in short to "monetize water as an ecosystem service." Two or three grants will be given in the eastern U.S. in private-ownership dominated forested watersheds that serve as drinking water sources.

Downstream Strategies is interested in working with a local water utility and other partners to develop a proposal and to implement a project, should we find a watershed that fits the program. The ideal watershed would be largely forested, mostly in private ownership, and a source water area for a water utility.

See http://www.usendowment.org/pendingrfps.html for more information.

If you are interested in discussing a potential collaboration, or if you could suggest a water utility or watershed that seems like a good fit, please contact Evan:

Evan Hansen, President
Downstream Strategies
219 Wall Street
Morgantown, WV 26505
304.292.2450
www.downstreamstrategies.com

PA DEP ANNOUNCES APPLICATION PERIOD FOR FEDERAL COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT GRANTS

Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger today announced that DEP’s Water Planning Office will begin accepting applications for federal fiscal year 2010 coastal zone grants. The grants are funded by the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA), and will finance projects within the Delaware Estuary and Lake Erie coastal zones that support the program’s mission to protect and enhance Pennsylvania’s coastal resources. Applications must be received by Oct. 23. Applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements, (e.g. be a political subdivision, an authority, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization or an educational institution). DEP and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have launched an electronic grant application system - Environmental eGrants - which standardizes the application process and provides an environmentally friendly way to submit a grant application through a secure Internet connection.

All applications for coastal zone management program grants must be submitted electronically through the eGrants system at: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/grants. The Environmental eGrants program will guide users through the process of completing the electronic grant application.

Public information sessions on the new electronic grants system will be held in both coastal zones. The first session will be held on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. in Room 108 of the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie. The second session will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 9:30 a.m. in the Betsy Ross Room 6069 at the Philadelphia State Office Building, 801 Market St., Philadelphia. To submit an application or to obtain more information concerning coastal zone grants, visit DEP’s website at www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: “Coastal Zone,” or contact DEP’s Water Planning Office, Second Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market St., P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, phone (717) 772-4785.

Department of the Interior: Endangered Species - Candidate Conservation Implementation

This program provides funding to prevent the need to list candidate species and for projects that benefit at-risk species that are potential candidates, with emphasis on those actions that address threats identified in candidate assessments.
More here.

The Conservation Alliance Supports Wilderness Protection Programs

The Conservation Alliance is a group of outdoor businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots citizen-action groups and their efforts to protect wild and natural areas in North America where outdoor enthusiasts spend their time. Funded programs should focus primarily on direct action to protect specific threatened wild places and waterways. The Alliance is not looking for mainstream education or scientific research projects, but rather for active campaigns. Before applying for funding, an organization must first be nominated by one of the Alliance's member companies. The upcoming nomination deadline for grants of up to $35,000 is November 1, 2009. The Alliance will send each nominated organization a request for proposal (RFP) including instructions on submitting a full request, which is due December 10, 2009. To review the grant criteria, visit the Conservation Alliance website.

RFP Release ~ Calling for Balanced Growth Watershed Planning Projects (OH)

A joint Request for Proposals (RFP) has been released by the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and the Ohio Water Resources Council calling for projects to develop Balanced Growth Watershed Plans in Ohio. Groups who will have an interest in developing projects will be watershed planning partnerships which are locally determined organizations that could include local government representatives, planning agencies, councils of governments, special purpose authorities, and/or non-governmental organizations. Awards of up to $100,000 each will be made for up to 8 projects across Ohio to take part in the two year planning process. The RFP can be accessed in PDF format at http://balancedgrowth.ohio.gov with application deadline of October 16, 2009. All applications from any watershed in the state are to be submitted to the Ohio Lake Erie Commission Office at One Maritime Plaza, 4th Floor, Toledo, OH 43604. Selection of watershed projects in the Ohio River Basin will be made by the Ohio Water Resources Council and in the Lake Erie Basin by the Ohio Lake Erie Commission.

A briefing session on the RFP will be held September 1, 2009, 1:00 p.m. at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in Columbus, OH. (Address: Fountain Square, 2045 Morse Road, Building E - Assembly Center East.) For any additional questions on the RFP or the Balanced Growth Program, please contact the Commission Office at 419-245-2514.

Chesapeak Bay Watershed Education & Training Program RFP

The 2010 Bay Watershed Education & Training (B-WET) Program Request for Proposals for the Chesapeake Bay watershed was published in the Federal Register on July 17th, 2009, marking the beginning of the ninth grant cycle for this popular program.

B-WET Chesapeake provides hands-on environmental education to students and teachers to foster stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Projects support the stewardship and meaningful watershed educational experiences goals of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement by: (1) providing meaningful bay or stream outdoor experiences to students in the Chesapeake Bay watershed OR training teachers to provide these experiences for their students, (2) combining meaningful bay or stream outdoor experiences and teacher training (exemplary programs), (3) providing meaningful bay or stream outdoor experiences by incorporating the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System, or (4) providing products and/or services that support meaningful bay or stream outdoor experiences and/or teacher training.

Final Proposals must be received by 5pm on Friday, October 16, 2009

For more information and detailed application instructions, please visit the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office Education website at http://noaa.chesapeakebay.net/educationmain.aspx


Grant program officers are also available to answer questions.
Depending on your part of the watershed, please contact:

Shannon Sprague, Program Manager: Pennsylvania/New York
*Shannon.Sprague@noaa.gov*
Ann Marie Chapman: Virginia/West Virginia *AnnMarie.Chapman@noaa.gov*
Doug Levin: Maryland/Delaware *Doug.Levin@noaa.gov*
Kevin Schabow: Baltimore/Washington, DC *Kevin.Schabow@noaa.gov*

EPA Fellowships for Graduate Environmental Study

Read the full RFP at http://epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2009/2009_star_gradfellow.html

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is offering Graduate Fellowships for master’s and doctoral level students in environmental fields of study. The deadline is October 22, 2009 at 4:00 PM for receipt of paper applications, and October 22, 2009 at 11:59:59 PM ET for submittal of electronic applications to Grants.gov. Subject to availability of funding, the Agency plans to award approximately 120 new fellowships by June 30, 2010. Master's level students may receive support for a maximum of two years. Doctoral students may be supported for a maximum of three years, usable over a period of four years. The fellowship program provides up to $37,000 per year of support per fellowship.

Applications are welcomed from students studying any academic discipline to the extent that the particular topic of research is related to EPA’s mission. This includes students studying in ecology, economics, engineering, modeling, the health sciences, physical sciences, earth sciences, exposure sciences, social sciences, informational sciences, mathematical and computer sciences, and environmental sciences.

The mission of the EPA STAR Fellowships Program is to help ensure that the U.S. meets its current and projected human resource needs in the environmental science, engineering, and policy fields. Thus the EPA is looking to fund students at the graduate level who are committed to meeting the challenges of today and the next generation by pursuing a career related to protecting human health and the environment. Proposals may come from students in traditional and interdisciplinary academic disciplines; from students studying in emerging fields that will require increased human capacity such as in the exposure sciences; from students utilizing multidisciplinary approaches and/or addressing multiple media; and, in areas which focus on environmental justice, environmental education, community-based participation, and/or environmental decision-making.

Great Lakes Stewardship Grants

Sustain Our Great Lakes is currently offering funding through its Community Grants Program and Stewardship Grants Program. These programs support habitat restoration, protection and enhancement projects, invasive species control, water quality improvements, and watershed planning and management within the Great Lakes basin. The Requests For Proposals are now available at www.sustainourgreatlakes.org (Click on Apply). Please consider submitting an application by the October deadlines.

Department of the Interior: Recovery Act-Coastal

This program addresses high priority wetland, upland, or riparian habitats in selected geographic areas. Projects must provide direct benefits to Federal Trust species (i.e., migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, inter-jurisdictional fish, certain marine mammals, and species of international concern). More information here.

Grants for Environmentally Friendly Projects

Nickelodeon's Big Green Grants Program
Nickelodeon's Big Green Grants Program provides support to schools and community-based organizations throughout the U.S. for environmentally friendly projects. Green Grants of $2,500 and $5,000 encourage projects that inspire kids to take care of the environment, be active and live healthier, and engage in community service. Applicants must participate in Worldwide Day of Play (September 26, 2009) or host a Big Green Help environmental project. Public and private elementary and middle schools as well as nonprofit community-based after-school organizations are eligible to apply. Applications from urban and rural/suburban areas as well as small and large community-based organizations serving all ethnicities are encouraged to apply. Requests must be submitted by December 31, 2009. Visit the program's website for application guidelines and forms.

WREN Opportunity Grants (PA)

WREN has Opportunity Grants available, small grants to community groups to carry out local watershed education projects. Projects must be completed by September 30. Maximum funding per project is $300. Learn more here.

REAP Applications Due (PA)

The Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program is accepting applications for the 2009-2010 year. REAP allows farmers and businesses to earn tax credits in exchange for "Best Management Practices" (BMPs) on agricultural operations that will enhance farm production and protect natural resources. Program guidelines and application forms are available at the REAP website.

FY2010 Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup Grants

The FY2010 Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants have been posted to the brownfields website at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicat.htm

The proposal deadline is October 16, 2009.

These grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum).

Opportunities for funding are as follows (See Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 66.818):

Brownfields Assessment Grants: (each funded up to $200,000 over three years; $1,000,000 for Assessment Coalitions) provide funding to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct planning (including cleanup planning) and community involvement related to brownfield sites;

Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants: (each funded up to $1,000,000 over five years) provide funding to capitalize a revolving fund and to make loans and provide subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites;

Brownfields Cleanup Grants: (each funded up to $200,000 over three years) provide funding for a grant recipient to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites that are owned by the grant recipient.

Please note there are two significant changes to the Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants in FY2010:
(1) Applicants applying for a cleanup grant must own the site that is the subject of their proposal at time of proposal submission;

(2) Applicants who are currently recipients of a Brownfields RLF cooperative agreement, whether awarded under CERCLA 104(k) or CERCLA 104(d) are ineligible to apply in the FY2010 competition. If you are an existing RLF cooperative agreement recipient you may be eligible to apply for RLF supplemental funding in early 2010.

EPA encourages applicants to read the guidelines carefully before applying.

PA: FEDERAL TAX REFUND APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania businesses pursuing renewable energy projects that qualify for federal tax credits are encouraged to apply for a direct refund from the federal government. The U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Treasury announced the plan to support the development of approximately 5,000 renewable energy production facilities. Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger told Pennsylvania businesses that the program will supply immediate cash payments in lieu of future tax credits. “Companies want to develop renewable energy projects, but may lack the necessary funding. The cash payments will make funds available that can be used immediately to invest in such projects, which will create jobs and help stabilize and grow Pennsylvania’s economy,” said Secretary Hanger. “Pennsylvania has a number of programs designed to encourage and assist green energy production, including a tax credit program for renewable energy production. The federal program is yet another tool that can be used as a potential source of capital that can help move stalled projects forward and drive us down the road toward energy independence.” As much as $3 billion in funding for the immediate federal tax credit program is being made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A company that creates and places in service a renewable energy facility beginning Jan. 1, 2009 can receive an immediate cash payment to cover a portion of the project’s cost. Previously a company would receive a tax credit. This new program would generate an immediate cash payment to cover the eligible costs in lieu of future tax credits. Companies interested in applying for the federal refund program can visit https://treas1603.nrel.gov/. To learn more about how the federal economic recovery program will benefit Pennsylvania, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.

Department of the Interior: Recovery Act - Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program

This program provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners interested in restoring, enhancing, and managing fish and wildlife habitats on their own lands.

More info here.

National Science Foundation: Environmental Sustainability

This program provides funding for engineering research that supports human well-being and that is also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems.

Grants will be given in four areas, including:

Ecological Engineering topics should focus on the engineering aspects of restoring ecological function to natural systems. Engineering research in enhancement of natural capital to foster sustainable development is encouraged. Many communities are involved in stream restoration, revitalization of urban rivers, and rehabilitation of wetlands that require engineering input. What is the fundamental engineering knowledge that is necessary for ecological engineering to function sustainability?

More info here.

EPA Provides Money for Clean Water, Drinking Water Projects

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides significant funding for states to finance high priority infrastructure projects needed to ensure clean water and safe drinking water. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, received $4 billion, including funds for Water Quality Management Planning Grants. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program received $2 billion. EPA is making Recovery Act grants to states and Puerto Rico to capitalize their State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, from which assistance is provided to finance eligible high priority water infrastructure projects. The states will set priorities based on public health and environmental factors, in addition to readiness to proceed to construction, and identify which projects will receive funding. States must provide at least 20% of their grants for green projects, including green infrastructure, energy or water efficiency, and environmentally innovative activities. Last week, EPA and the Department of Health and Human Service's announced $90 million in Recovery Act funds for improved access to vital drinking water and wastewater services in the American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The funds will be invested in 'shovel ready' infrastructure projects designed to better protect human and environmental health in Indian Country and to create jobs. For more information, click here, http://www.epa.gov/water/eparecovery/

Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People

The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP) focuses its efforts on the empowerment of economically poor and disadvantaged people seeking to change the structures that perpetuate their condition. SDOP currently supports groups in the United States who are oppressed by poverty and social systems and want to take charge of their own lives. Funded projects must be presented, owned, and controlled by the groups of people who will directly benefit from them and must address long-term corrections of the conditions that keep people bound by poverty and oppression. Requests may be submitted throughout the year. Visit the SDOP website to review the funding guidelines and download the application form.

More info here.