Grant Program
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NOAA Community-based Restoration Program Deadline: October 12, 2005 The NOAA Community-based Restoration Program (CRP) provides funding to catalyze the implementation of locally-driven, grass-roots habitat restoration projects that will benefit living marine resources, including anadromous fish. Projects funded through the CRP have strong on-the-ground habitat restoration components that provide educational and social benefits for people and their communities in addition to long-term ecological habitat improvements for NOAA trust resources. The role of NOAA in the CRP is to help identify potential restoration projects, strengthen the development and implementation of sound restoration projects and science-based monitoring of such projects within communities, and develop long-term, ongoing national and regional partnerships to support community-based restoration of living marine resource habitats across a wide geographic area. Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation will be implemented through a cooperative agreement. Funding of up to $3,000,000 is expected to be available for Community-based Habitat Restoration Project Grants in FY 2006. The NOAA Restoration Center (RC) anticipates that typical awards will range from $50,000 to $200,000. The NOAA Community-based Restoration Program (CRP) applies a grass-roots approach to restoration by actively engaging communities in on-the-ground restoration of fishery habitats around the nation. The CRP emphasizes partnerships and collaborative strategies built around restoring NOAA trust resources and improving the environmental quality of local communities. For the last couple of years, EarthCorps solicits projects for their ongoing work under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Community-Based Restoration Program (NOAA-CRP).They invite individuals and organizations to submit proposals for EarthCorps participation in habitat restoration projects in the Puget Sound Region. The NOAA-CRP provides financial and technical assistance to local efforts to restore marine, estuarine and riparian habitats. EarthCorps' mission is to build global community through local environmental service. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS EarthCorps/NOAA sub awards may be made to non-profit organizations, local and state agencies, educational institutions, tribal agencies, and community volunteer groups. Non-profit organizations must provide proof of nonprofit status (i.e. 501(c) (3) documentation from the IRS) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS Projects must demonstrate significant benefits to commercial and recreational fishery resources, including marine, estuarine or anadromous species (fish, like salmon, that spawn in fresh water and then migrate to the sea), and/or endangered and threatened marine species and their habitats (Puget Sound Chinook or Hood Canal summer chum salmon, for example). The EarthCorps/NOAA-CRP Partnership is a pilot program to evaluate the use and efficacy of Conservation Corps in performing CRP projects; therefore, all projects must include significant field implementation component, to be performed by EarthCorps as the primary contractor. Projects will be selected based on technical merit, level of community
involvement, educational and outreach opportunities, and ecological benefits
to living marine resources. Restoration activities may include, but are
not limited to: Projects should include a monitoring program to evaluate project success that is consistent with NOAA Restoration Center’s minimum monitoring requirements: PROPOSAL GUIDELINES EarthCorps has been consistently funded for three years, and will be
competing for a fourth year of funding from federal FY2006 appropriations.
Typical sub-awards under the EarthCorps/NOAA partnership have ranged
from $10,000 - 50,000 in cash value, however, smaller and larger projects
will also be considered. Projects must be completed by 6/30/2007. Eligible
budget items include: Successful proposals will provide at least 1:1 match to requested funds. Match may be cash or in-kind donation of materials or labor. Funding awarded prior to Jan. 1, 2006 and all federal funds are ineligible as match. PERMIT AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS NOAA/EarthCorps awards are a federal funding action, and constitute a ‘federal nexus’ for purposes of environmental review. For each award, NOAA Restoration Center may be required to assess the potential impacts of project actions as mandated by federal statutes, including the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (EPA), and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Uncontroversial restoration actions with predictable impacts do not typically trigger extensive review procedures. However, projects must be compliant with all federal, state and local regulatory requirements prior to implementation. Project proponents are expected to take prompt leadership in identifying and meeting all regulatory requirements when operating under federal funding. Support will be provided for Endangered Species Act (ESA) and essential fish habitat (EFH) consultations with NOAA trust species. For more information on how federal environmental compliance may affect your project please contact Paul Cereghino (paul.r.cereghino@noaa.gov) PROPOSAL SUBMISSION The 2005 deadline was 10/5/05. To apply for next year, contact Bill
Brosseau, EarthCorps Field Operations Director, by email bill@earthcorps.org. |