...to preserve, protect, develop, and restore coastal resources for all Rhode Islanders
CRMC seeks pre-proposals for Habitat Restoration Trust Fund projects
August 31 , 2006, WAKEFIELD—The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council is currently seeking pre-proposals for habitat restoration projects all over the state for 2006/2007 through its R.I. Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration Program and Trust Fund. Pre-proposals are due to the CRMC by October 13, 2006.
The purpose of the R.I. Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration Program, established by the Rhode Island General Assembly, is to facilitate design, planning, construction, and monitoring of coastal and estuarine restoration projects by providing grants and technical assistance; and increase awareness about restoration by providing funding for educational outreach opportunities. The program is administered by the CRMC with technical support from the R.I. Habitat Restoration Team.
Municipalities, committees, boards or commissions chartered by a municipality, nonprofit organizations, civic groups, educational institutions and state agencies are eligible to submit a project pre-proposal. Projects must be located in Rhode Island.
Funding for projects is from an annual account totaling $225,000. The Trust Fund allocates these monies from fees collected under the Oil Spill Response and Prevention Act (OSPAR) to potential habitat restoration projects. The Habitat Restoration Team, formed in 1998 through the collaborative efforts of the CRMC, DEM and Save The Bay, acts as the technical advisory committee to the CRMC, and recommends projects for funding. Individual awards will generally range from $5,000 to $50,000 per year. Awards will be made for periods of up to two years, pending availability of funds; longer-term projects may reapply in subsequent years.
Projects do not require matching funding; however, proposals that can demonstrate matching funds or in-kind services will have an advantage in the selection process. Applicants are therefore encouraged to detail all federal and non-federal resources contributing toward completion of the project, whether cash or in-kind.
Project pre-proposals, outlining the potential projects, are due by October 13, 2006. The team will respond to the submitted pre-proposals and request full applications for projects chosen for further consideration on October 23, 2006. Full applications are due by December 8, 2006, and the notification of awards will be sent to applicants on January 27, 2007.
To submit a pre-proposal, please send a letter of inquiry by October 13 to Megan Higgins, Coastal Policy Analyst; R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council, Stedman Government Center, Suite 116, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879. For a full version of the pre-proposal request and instructions, as well as a guide and application, go to http://www.crmc.ri.gov/habitatrestoration.html.
Please include: (1) project name; (2) project location (town and street, if any) with map; (3) preliminary budget, indicating amount of request, cash match (if any, indicate source(s) of funds) and in-kind match (if any); (4) property ownership information, if known; (5) project manager contact information (phone, email address and mailing address), and (6) list of organization(s) involved, with brief description of role of each. Letters of support will not be accepted for pre-proposals, but will be considered with final proposals. Questions about this process may be directed to Megan Higgins, mhiggins@crmc.ri.gov or (401) 783-3370.