Request for Proposals: Long Island Sound Futures Fund 2023 (US)

Deadline: 10-May-23

The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) is seeking proposals to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound (Sound) with approximately $10 million for grants in 2023.

The program is managed by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS). Major funding is from EPA through the LISS with additional funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Avangrid Foundation.

Program Priorities

The LISFF supports efforts to test innovative approaches to conservation, deliver transformative projects and support people and communities who value the Sound and take a direct role in its future. A road map guiding investments under the LISFF is the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan 2020-2024 Update (CCMP). The Long Island Sound Futures Fund invests in projects under three CCMP themes shown below, in CCMP Implementation Actions (IAs) associated with each theme, and in three CCMP cross-cutting principles: resilience to climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice. The most competitive proposals will be those that incorporate the theme(s), IA(s) and cross-cutting principle(s) of the CCMP.
Projects that incorporate outreach to communities, foster community engagement, and pursue collaborative management leading to measurable conservation benefits are encouraged. When possible, projects—especially those implemented in underserved, under-resourced or overburdened communities—should engage community-level partners to help design, implement, and sustain the work to secure maximum benefits for communities and post-grant award.
- CCMP THEME: 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:
  - Implementation of “shovel-ready” projects that result in quantifiable pollutant prevention. The most competitive projects will be those that address water quality at larger or more comprehensive-scale such as at the level of a neighborhood, waterfront or downtown. Proposals will be asked to describe plans for long-term maintenance.
  - Planning activities that set-the-stage for implementation of water quality projects including:
    - community engagement, planning and prioritization;
    - feasibility, suitability or alternatives analyses;
    - site assessment and conceptual design; and
    - final design and permits.
  - Installation of decentralized on-site wastewater treatment systems that more effectively treat nitrogen.
  - Low-cost retrofits at wastewater treatment facilities such as optimization and process improvements.
  - Alternatives to chemical and nitrogen-intensive turf and landscaping fertilizer and pesticide use.
  - Reduction or prevention of single-use plastic and other water/land-based consumer debris, abandoned and lost fishing/aquaculture gear, and microplastics and microfibers.
  - Watershed planning addressing water quality problems including nitrogen and sediments. Plans should include EPA’s nine elements
  - Nutrient bioextraction.
  - In-stream restoration to increase nutrient processing, and to reduce erosion.
  - Replacing or right-sizing culverts or otherwise improving road and stream crossings to reduce downstream erosion of nutrients.
  - Projects in the Upper Basin states (MA, NH, VT) of the Long Island Sound Watershed must have a specific outcome related to nitrogen prevention as a result of project activities through:
    - Implementation of “shovel-ready” projects that result in quantifiable pollutant prevention. Proposals will be asked to describe plans for long-term maintenance of the site.
    - Planning for activities that set-the-stage for implementation of water quality projects including:
      - community engagement, planning and prioritization;
      - feasibility, suitability or alternatives analyses;
      - site assessment and conceptual design; and
      - final design and permits.
    - Projects must document the benefit to downstream Long Island Sound such as by indicating how the project addresses a significant source of nitrogen/nutrient pollution to Long Island Sound, and how the design of the project and its implement will effectively reduce downstream pollution loading.
- CCMP THEME: Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife – Restore coastal habitats to maintain resilience and function and to support populations of fish, birds and wildlife by:
  - Implementing “shovel-ready” projects that result in quantifiable habitat acres restored. Proposals will be asked to describe plans for long-term maintenance.
  - Planning that sets-the-stage for implementation of habitat restoration projects including:
    - community engagement, planning and prioritization;
    - feasibility, suitability or alternatives analyses;
    - site assessment and conceptual design; and
    - final design and permits.
    - Fostering diverse, balanced and abundant populations of fish, birds and wildlife.
- CCMP THEME: Sustainable and Resilient Communities – This CCMP theme has two major categories of fundable activities. Projects that:
  - sustain the ecological balance of the Sound in a healthy, productive, and resilient state for the benefit of people, wildlife and the natural environment; and
  - support vibrant, informed, and engaged communities that use, appreciate, and help protect and sustain the Sound.
  - Resilience & Sustainability. Nature-based or green-gray hybrid projects that combine resilience, community, and conservation including:
  - Implementation of “shovel-ready” projects that build resilience in communities. The most competitive projects will provide dual benefits – for human community resilience and habitat, fish and wildlife.
  - Planning activities that set-the-stage for implementation of resilience projects including:
    - community engagement, planning and prioritization;
    - feasibility, suitability or alternatives analyses;
    - site assessment and conceptual design; and
    - final design and permits.

Funding Information

With funding of approximately $10 million for projects in 2023, there are four funding categories under the LISFF each with a different range of grant funding.
Implementation Projects: $50,000 to $1.5 million for projects with particularly high environmental community benefit relative to cost, including:
- Water quality, habitat restoration, and 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, Environmental Justice and/or community and public outreach and engagement.
Design/Planning Projects: $50,000 to $500,000 for:
- Water quality or habitat restoration projects.
- Watershed plans.
- Community resilience/sustainability/natural hazard mitigation plans.

Geographical Focus

All proposed projects must be within the Long Island Sound.

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.

Ineligible

Research projects.
Development of new educational curriculum.
Support for fellowships and/or tuition support or reimbursement.
Marketing efforts serving to generally promote the applicant organization and its initiatives.
Land acquisition projects.
One-off efforts to treat or control invasive plants without an existing or planned for long-term stewardship and maintenance plan.
General monitoring to assess conditions or to identify pollution sources.
Aquatic invasive species control.
Funding for food, t-shirts and promotional items (e.g., key chains, coffee mugs, pens etc.).
Equipment: Applicants are encouraged to rent equipment where possible and cost-effective or use matching funds to make those purchases. NFWF acknowledges, however, that some projects may only be completed using NFWF funds to procure equipment.

For more information, visit National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).