Deadline: 27-May-21
The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) is seeking proposals to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound (Sound) with potential funding of $5 million or more for grants in 2021.
The program is managed by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Long Island Sound Study (LISS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Priorities
- Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds – Improve water quality by reducing nitrogen pollution, combined sewer overflows, impervious cover, stormwater runoff, and point and nonpoint source loading into Long Island Sound through:
- Projects that result in quantifiable pollutant prevention or reduction.
- Planning and design that set-the-stage for implementation of water quality projects.
- Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife – Restore coastal habitats to maintain resilience and function and to support populations of fish, birds and wildlife by:
- Restoring habitat within the Important Coastal Habitat Types targeted by LISS.
- Planning or design to set-the-stage for implementation of such projects.
- Fostering diverse, balanced and abundant populations of fish, birds and wildlife.
- Sustainable and Resilient Communities – Support vibrant, informed, and engaged communities that use, appreciate, and help protect and sustain the Sound; and sustain its ecological balance in a healthy, productive, and resilient state for the benefit of both people and the natural environment through:
- Public engagement, knowledge and stewardship.
- Coastal projects that enhance community resilience and sustainability.
- Planning and design that set-the-stage for implementation of resilience projects.
- Sound Science and Inclusive Management – Manage the Sound using science that is inclusive, adaptive, innovative and accountable through:
- Community-based science.
- Data management and integration.
Funding Information
- With possible funding of $5 million or more for grants in 2021, there are four funding categories, each with a different level of support available.
- Implementation Projects: Ranging in value from $50,000 to $1 million awarded to support projects that implement actions described in the CCMP Update and have particularly high environmental community benefit relative to cost, including:
- Large-scale and/or complex water quality improvement, habitat restoration, and coastal resilience projects.
- Projects with the greatest promise to demonstrate, influence, pilot, innovate, and/or provide a proof of concept with the aim of accelerating local and regional water quality improvements, natural resource restoration, coastal resilience, diversity, equity and inclusion and/or community and public outreach and engagement.
- Design/Planning Projects: Ranging in value from $50,000 to $400,000 awarded to support the costs associated with design/planning for:
- Water quality or habitat restoration projects.
- Watershed plans to mitigate eutrophication-related impairments.
- Sustainable behavior education and outreach including community based social marketing campaigns.
- Coastal resiliency/sustainability/natural hazard mitigation plans.
- Community Science/Water Quality Monitoring: Ranging in value from $50,000 to $100,000 for water quality monitoring.
- Education and Public Participation Grants: Ranging in value from $50,000 to $100,000 awarded to public participation and education projects.
- Implementation Projects: Ranging in value from $50,000 to $1 million awarded to support projects that implement actions described in the CCMP Update and have particularly high environmental community benefit relative to cost, including:
- Project Period: Projects must start within six months and be completed within 24 months after notification of grant award. Large-scale complex implementation projects must start within six months and be completed within thirty-six months after notification of grant award. Notification of award is projected to be November 2021. Project start date cannot be before October 1, 2021.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local government, municipal government, Tribal Governments and Organizations, and educational institutions.
- Ineligible applicants include U.S. Federal government agencies, businesses, and unincorporated individuals.
For more information, visit https://www.nfwf.org/programs/long-island-sound-futures-fund/long-island-sound-futures-fund-2021-request-proposals
