Sierra Nevada Conservancy

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES NEWSLETTER

September-October 2018

 Funding Research Memos for fuel reduction, parks and trails, habitat preservation, environmental education, and other program areas are available on the SNC funding opportunities webpage. This is a great way to find funding opportunities for your projects!

Upcoming Grants that Might be of Interest:

• The Polaris Industries R.A.I.L.S. Grant Program (due September 1) assists national, state, and local organizations in the United States in ensuring the future of ATV riding.
• The Wildlife Conservation Board’s Streamflow Enhancement Program (due September 4) funds projects that enhance the amount, timing and/or quality of water available for anadromous fish and special status species; or provide resilience to climate change.
• The Wildlife Conservation Board’s Natural Community Conservation Planning Local Assistance Grant (due September 14) supports fish and wildlife habitat preservation, restoration, and enhancement that will help local public and nonprofit agencies implement Natural Community Conservation Plans in California.
• Strong Foundation Grants (due September 15) support environmental and conservation efforts, eco-spirituality, grassroots action, environmental education, capacity building, citizen participation, collaborative efforts, planning and training.
• The FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) & Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) programs (Notices of Intent due September 24) provide funding for a variety of disaster prevention and mitigation activities, including fuel reduction on private and public (non-federal) lands and hazard mitigation planning. (See details below.)
• The CA Resources Agency River Parkway Grant Program (concept proposals due September 27) supports the acquisition, restoration, protection, and development of river parkways – outdoor areas adjacent to a river or stream which afford public access to open space, low impact recreational activities, and/or wildlife habitat.
• National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF): Every Day Event Program (due September 28) provides mini-grants to support restoration and resilience-focused volunteer events on public lands.
• The US Fish and Wildlife Service Tribal Wildlife Grant Program (due September 29) funds programs that benefit wildlife and their habitat, particularly species of tribal cultural or traditional importance.
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative: Project Learning Tree: GreenWorks! Grants (due September 30) provide up to $1,000 to schools and youth organizations for environmental service-learning projects that link classroom learning to the real world.
• The CA Department of Parks and Recreation Habitat Conservation Fund grants (due October 1) fund nature interpretation programs that bring urban residents into park and wildlife areas, projects that protect various plant and animal species, and acquisition and development of wildlife corridors and trails.
• Clif Bar Family Foundation Small Grants (due October 1) support efforts to protect the Earth’s beauty and bounty, create a robust and healthy food system, increase opportunities for outdoor activity, reduce environmental health hazards, and build stronger communities.
• The FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (Notices of Intent due October 5) provides funding for a variety of disaster prevention and mitigation activities, including fuel reduction on private and public (non-federal) lands and hazard mitigation planning. (See details below.)
• The Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program (due October 9) supports activities and events that connect communities to forests.
• The Whole Foods Foundation School Garden Grants (due October 15) provide modest grants to support new or existing edible gardens at schools or nonprofit organizations.
• S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): North American Wetlands Conservation Act Small Grants Program (due October 19) funds protection, restoration, and/or enhancement projects for wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds.
• Satterberg Foundation Core Support Grants (letters of interest due October 22) provide multi-year general operating support for nonprofit organizations that work to strengthen communities by creating a just society and a sustainable environment.
• The Conservation Alliance grants (due November 1) support grassroots campaigns to protect threatened wild places throughout North America for their habitat and recreational values.
• Annie’s Homegrown Grants for Gardens (due November 1) provide modest grants to support edible school gardens.
• The Institute for Museum and Library Services’ ‘Inspire’ Grants for Small Museums (due November 1) encourage small museums to implement priority projects in the areas of Lifelong Learning, Community Anchors and Catalysts, and Collections Stewardship and Public Access.
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Environmental Enhancement Fund grants (due November 16) support environmental enhancement projects located within or immediately adjacent to waters of the state.
• The Hind Foundation (rolling) supports community-based projects that make visible impacts, including land conservation and plant/wildlife protection.

Interested in cleaning up contamination to re-use an industrial site? The EPA Brownfields program has a variety of grants for assessment and clean-up of contamination on sites. This is often the first step to redeveloping the site for industrial or other uses. Last year’s deadline for the assessment and clean-up grants was mid-November and this year’s solicitation is likely to be released in September or October. Current grant solicitations have not yet been released, but upcoming changes to EPA’s Brownfields Program can be found here. You can also contact the EPA Region 9 staff for more information about the types of assistance provided.

FEMA Disaster Mitigation Grant Programs – The Pre-Disaster Mitigation and Hazard Mitigation grant programs are upcoming sources of disaster prevention funding, including fuel reduction on private property. Post-fire reforestation is also a fundable activity. Activities cannot take place on federal lands. Local government and special districts (including Resource Conservation Districts) are eligible applicants. Funding is also available for generators to power critical disaster response facilities such as clinics, emergency operations, and shelters. Communities interested in trying out biomass generators for on-going as well as emergency power might consider this source of funding.

Your SNC Area Representative can help you set up an individual consultation with the SNC Funding Team to get advice about specific funding opportunities or general fund development strategies. To take advantage of this resource, contact your Area Representative.

Grant Writing Workshops are available to help build the capacity of organizations that serve the Sierra Nevada Region. If you are interested in organizing or attending a workshop, contact your Area Representative. Upcoming workshops are scheduled in Shasta and Amador counties, and additional workshops can be scheduled upon request.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Sacramento District California In-Lieu Fee Program (ILF Program) is currently seeking proposals for aquatic resource restoration projects in the following Priority Service Areas:

• Bear/Yuba Rivers
• Cache/Putah Rivers
• Calaveras/Stanislaus Rivers
• Carson/Walker Rivers
• Feather River
• Kaweah/Tule River
• Merced/Tuolumne River
• Northeast Sacramento River
• Northwest Sacramento River
• Pit River

NFWF intends to partner with public, private, and non-profit organizations to help fund and implement on-the-ground wetland and/or waters restoration (re-establishment or rehabilitation), establishment (creation), and/or enhancement projects.  Projects may be stand-alone proposals or may be an identifiable component of a larger project.

In each case, the restoration benefits provided by the project must be clearly demonstrated and must meet all applicable requirements set forth in the 2008 Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources Final Rule (the “2008 Rule”).  These requirements are set forth in the 2008 Rule at 33 CFR Part 332.8(j) and 33 CFR Part 332.4(c)(2)-(14); and 40 CFR Part 230.98(j) and 40 CFR Part 230.94(c)(2)-(14).

For additional information on the ILF Program and how to apply for funding, please see the attached Request for Proposals or visit our webpage:

http://www.nfwf.org/ilf/Pages/fall2018rfp.aspx

Pre-Proposal applications are due September 28, 2018.  For more information or questions about this Request for Proposals, please contact:

Eligible rural communities and water districts can apply online for funding to maintain, modernize or build water and wastewater systems. They can visit the interactive RD Apply tool, or they can apply through one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices.

USDA is providing the funding through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. It can be used to finance drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems for rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.

Sierra Nevada Conservancy

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ALERT

Proposition 68 Opportunity

The River Parkways grant program has been refunded with Proposition 68 dollars. Concept proposals for this first round of funding will be due September 27, 2018. Technical Assistance Workshops are scheduled for August 14 (Sacramento or webcast) and August 16 (Azusa).

The purpose of this program is to support the acquisition, restoration, protection, and development of river parkways. River Parkways are defined as outdoor areas adjacent to a river or stream, set apart to conserve scenic, natural, open space or recreational values to afford public access to open space, low impact recreational activities, and/or wildlife habitat. Projects must involve natural creeks, streams, and/or rivers, even if they flow only during the rainy season, or channelized or culverted creeks, streams, and/or rivers. Projects must provide public access or be a component of a larger parkway plan that provides public access. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount and no match required, though projects that leverage funding are more competitive.

Eligible projects include:

• Creation or expansion of trails for walking, bicycling, and/or equestrian activities that are compatible with other conservation objectives
• Improvement of existing river parkways by providing amenities such as picnic and rest areas or shade ramadas
• Conversion of channelized streams or rivers to a more historical flow pattern that will promote the structure, function, and dynamics of riparian and riverine habitat
• Acquisition of land that will be managed to increase the size and quality of existing riparian habitat
• Expansion of existing river parkway by acquiring adjacent lands to accommodate periodic flooding
• Restoration of land to natural floodplain forms, including wetland areas that will accommodate periodic flooding
• Conversion of riverfront land from industrial use into public multiuse areas, such as floodplains, wetlands, public trails, etc.
• Revitalization of urban neighborhoods by removing abandoned structures along the riverfront to provide open space river access for the public
• Construction of an overlook area for a restored wetland with interpretive signage, where the public can observe the project benefits
• Construction of a boardwalk adjacent to sensitive habitat to allow public viewing without disturbing flora or fauna