Deadline: 30-Jul-21
The Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. is inviting proposals for the Waters for Georgia Program. Through this funding program, the Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. seeks to invest in water quality improvement projects that result in measurable benefits to environments and communities across the state of Georgia.
To ensure that funding is directed where it is most needed, proposed projects must be focused on waters of Georgia that are currently listed as impaired under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. Further, successful projects should focus on reducing the source(s) of impairment and include actions that will contribute to the de-listing or down-listing the impaired waters.
Additional consideration will be given to projects benefitting majority Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and underserved communities.
Priorities
Priority will be given to projects that have the following attributes:
- Have the potential to impact the long-term ecological health of the water body and larger watershed;
- Contribute to an existing watershed, water quality improvement, or conservation plan or initiative (including National, regional, state, or local scales);
- Contribute to species conservation in biologically impaired streams, particularly those involving rare, threatened and endangered (RTE) species;
- Can be monitoring by an existing or proposed monitoring plan;
- Provide clear social co-benefits(s) – especially in -BIPOC or underserved communities;
- Leverage cost-sharing and/or matching funds through private donors, corporate partners, and/or state 319(h) grants or other government funding to maximize overall project value;
- Have current unmet funding needs of at least $25,000, or GPF will consider unmet/gap funding proposals of less than $25,000 for projects that promise exceptional water stewardship benefits to the community.
- Will be implemented and begin delivering benefits by December 31, 2023.
Funding Information
- The Foundation will grant awards of $25,000 and up, with a total anticipated investment of $1 million for projects that will be implemented and begin delivering benefits by December 31, 2023.
- The Foundation will consider smaller investments for projects that promise exceptional water stewardship benefits to the community.
Outcomes
- The Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. supports a wide range of project types that address the sources or causes of water quality impairments and support multiple benefits for communities and aquatic ecosystems.
- All projects must have a clear link to watershed and ecosystem health.
- Projects that also include objectives related to improving community well-being, water supply sustainability and/or resiliency for sustainable uses such as agriculture, municipal drinking water, industry, recreation, etc. are strongly encouraged.
- Examples of project types include (but are not limited to):
- Implementation of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) linked to improved water quality (e.g., stream fencing, off-channel livestock watering, sediment control, etc.)
- Physical enhancement of aquatic or riparian habitat (e.g., buffer revegetation/restoration, stream channel reconstruction, instream habitat structure, improved stream/aquatic passage, barrier removal etc.)
- Improving or addressing water conservation (e.g., irrigation efficiency, groundwater recharge, reconnecting floodplains, etc.)
- Green infrastructure: stormwater runoff management to the extent that stormwater influences impairment criteria.
- Others (e.g., all project types which directly address and enhance water quality and aquatic habitats and meet all other program criteria will be considered for funding).
Eligibility Criteria
- The Foundation will consider proposals from governmental agencies or organizations that have an active 501(c)3 tax designation and described in Section 509 of the Internal Revenue Code except for any organization described in Code Section 509(a)(3)(B)(iii) that is not “functionally integrated” with its supported organization.
- Georgia Power Foundation does not provide grants:
- To individuals, private elementary or secondary schools and religious organizations, nor do they fund political campaigns or causes.
- To organizations whose policies or actions discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability.
- For projects designed to mitigate legal or regulatory compliance obligations or tied to ongoing legal or regulatory action.
For more information, visit https://www.georgiapower.com/community/apply-grant/environmental-water-grant.html