High Energy Cost Grants, Deadline Dec. 14

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the availability of up to $10 million in competitive grants to assist communities with extremely high energy costs. The grant funds may be used to acquire, construct, or improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities serving communities where average annual residential expenditure for home energy exceeding 275 percent of the national average. Eligible projects also include on-grid and off-grid renewable energy projects and implementation of energy efficiency, and energy conservation projects for eligible communities. Projects cannot be for the primary benefit of a single household or business. Grant funds may not be used for the preparation of the grant application, payment of utility bills, fuel purchases, routine maintenance or other routine operating costs, or for the purchase of any equipment, structures, or real estate not directly associated with provision of community energy services.

Eligible Applicants:

  • City or township governments
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Special district governments
  • Independent school districts
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses
    Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • County governments
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • State governments
  • Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Individuals
  • Additional Information on Eligibility:     Individuals may apply on behalf of unincorporated community organizations. Awards will not be made directly to individuals. Eligible applicants also include sole proprietorships, legally-organized for-profit or nonprofit organizations such as, but not limited to, a corporation, association, partnership (including a limited liability partnership), cooperative, or trust. Applicant must be located in the United States, a U.S. Territory or other area authorized by law to participate in programs of the Rural Utilities Service or under the Rural Electrification Act.

There is no match or cost sharing required. Deadline is Dec. 14. Contact us for more information. For more information on GFA visit us at gfa.tc.

High Energy Cost Grants, Deadline Dec. 14

Great Lakes Restoration Grants, Deadline Dec. 14

Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (GLFWRA) Fiscal Year 2016 Notice of Funding Opportunity Announced

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is accepting Fiscal Year 2016 project proposals to protect, restore and enhance Great Lakes fish and wildlife habitat under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (Act).

The six goals of the Act are:

1) Restoring and maintaining self-sustaining fish and wildlife resources.
2) Minimizing the impacts of contaminants on fishery and wildlife resources.
3) Protecting, maintaining, and, where degraded and destroyed, restoring fish and wildlife habitat, including the enhancement and creation of wetlands that result in a net gain in the amount of those habitats.
4) Stopping illegal activities adversely impacting fishery and wildlife resources.
5) Restoring threatened and endangered species to viable, self-sustaining levels.
6) Protecting, managing, and conserving migratory birds.

The Service requests interested entities to submit restoration, research and Regional project proposals for the restoration of Great Lakes fish and wildlife resources. The purpose of the Act is to provide assistance to States, Indian Tribes, and other interested entities to encourage cooperative conservation, restoration and management of the fish and wildlife resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes Basin. Supported in part by President Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a total of approximately $1.7 million is projected to be available to support projects this fiscal year.

Deadline for proposal submission is Monday, December 14, 2015 by 7:00 PM EST.

Pre-proposals required, 25% matching funds. Contact us for more information.

Great Lakes Restoration Grants, Deadline Dec. 14

Dam Management Grants, Deadline Nov. 13

Program Goals
This program is designed to address the Governor’s direction on community infrastructure needs as stated in his 2011 address on this issue. The main objectives of the DMPG are to:

  • Enhance aquatic environments and reduce long-term infrastructure costs by removing dams without an economic purpose; or
  • Repair or facilitate major maintenance work on dams that serve an economic purpose and cause minimal environmental impacts,  or present imminent public safety issues. Please note that the purpose of this grant program is to address failing infrastructure needs.  It is not intended to fund general maintenance or to correct deficiencies in the design of otherwise structurally sound dams.

Program Objectives and Priorities
The key objectives and priorities addressed by this program are:

  • Removal of impairments to watershed processes that include: connectivity; fish and wildlife passage; hydrology; sediment and woody debris transport, water quality; and fish community composition and size structure.  Resolution of public safety concerns.
  • Increased public involvement in watershed issues.
  • Increased access to aquatic resources.
  • Improving quality of life in urban areas.
  • High rate of return on dam management investments.

Eligible Projects

  • Removal of dams that have no economic purpose resulting in the enhancement of aquatic environments and the reduction of long term infrastructure costs.
  • Repair/major maintenance of dams which have an economic purpose that are an imminent public safety issue and are deemed of unsatisfactory condition by the DEQ Dam Safety Program or are under DEQ order.

Eligible Costs
Only those costs directly associated with completing the project and incurred during the project period with the exception of engineering, design and design administration costs, are eligible for reimbursement.

Ineligible Projects
Projects with scope of work outside the grant focus area are not eligible for Dam Management Grant support.  Within the focus area, the following types of projects are also not eligible:

  • Feasibility or ecological studies.
  • Experimental and unproven methods to rehabilitate river channels after dam removals or used in rehabilitating a dam.
  • Routine maintenance activities and operational costs.
  • Any project where the estimated repair/major maintenance is less than 50% of the estimated cost of replacing the structure.
  • Dams that are in litigation and/or mitigation.

Eligible Grant Applicants
Any federal, tribal, local and state units of government, nonprofit groups or individuals in Michigan may apply for a Dam Management Grant.

Grant Limits & Local Committed Fund Requirements
There is no minimum grant amount and the maximum grant amount you can apply for is the amount of funds appropriated in a given fiscal year.  The applicant must commit to provide at least 10% of the total project cost.  The 10% may be in any of the following forms:

  • Applicant’s own cash
  • Applicant’s own force account labor, equipment, or materials.
  • Donations of cash, materials, equipment or services by others – requires letter(s) of commitment from donors at time of application

Scores for projects where applicant commits in excess of 10% will be increased based upon the amount committed.

Applications must be in by Nov. 13, 2015. Please contact us for more information.

 

Dam Management Grants, Deadline Nov. 13