CRMC seeks pre-proposals for Habitat Restoration Trust Fund projects

September 1 , 2007, WAKEFIELD – The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council is currently seeking pre-proposals for habitat restoration project funding through its R.I. Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration Program and Trust Fund. The Rhode Island General Assembly established the Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration Program 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 education and outreach. 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. Proposed projects must be located within Rhode Island.  There is no specific match requirement for proposed projects; 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.

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 project awards generally range from $5,000 to $50,000 per year.  Longer-term projects may reapply for additional funds in subsequent years.

Project pre-proposals are due by October 17, 2007. The technical advisory committee will review pre-proposals and request full proposals for projects chosen for further consideration. The deadline for submitting full proposals will be December 14, 2007.

To submit a pre-proposal, please fill out a pre-proposal form (download form at http://www.crmc.ri.gov/habitatrestoration.html), and submit it to Caitlin Chaffee, Coastal Policy Analyst; R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council, Stedman Government Center, Suite 116, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879. For more detailed information about the Fund and previously funded projects, go to the CRMC web site, www.crmc.ri.gov/ and click on Habitat Restoration.  For questions regarding the Fund or pre-application requirements, please contact Caitlin at cchaffee@crmc.ri.gov or 783-3370.

Public information sessions on this and other restoration funding opportunities will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on September 25th at Save the Bay and on September 26th at the Corliss Auditorium at the URI Bay Campus.