The State of Maryland is now accepting proposals for the 2012 fiscal year, for projects to curb polluted runoff and move the State toward its 2-year milestones. The deadline is 5:00 p.m., May 28, 2010. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold two workshops in March, to cover specific information on what will be in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Request for Proposal (RFP), what has changed from the first round, what a great proposal should include and an overview of technical resources available.
“This approach differs significantly from our traditional way of doing business related to Bay restoration,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “For the past 25 years, we’ve spread money and projects around the state with limited success. This new approach recognizes that we do not have the resources to do everything, everywhere, and instead targets the Trust Fund dollars in areas and ways that the science tells us will have the greatest results.”
The local government and non-governmental organizations (NGO) applying must pitch projects located in the most effective areas to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Coastal Bays and focus on local water quality.
As a part of Maryland’s plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, the first 2-year milestone consists of a suite of 27 actions to reduce harmful runoff by 3.75 million pounds of nitrogen and 193,000 pounds of phosphorus. Governor O’Malley announced the 2-year milestones last May to accelerate Maryland’s on the ground efforts to reach its current nutrient reduction goals by a newly established end date of 2020. The Governor made the announcement at the 26th meeting of the Chesapeake Executive Council, the multi-jurisdictional partnership that coordinates regional Bay restoration programming.
Through this competitive RFP, applicants may apply for funding for projects that improve water quality by reducing nitrogen, phosphorus and/or sediment pollution and that help to achieve the 2-Year Milestone. Expected annual funding amounts range from $1 million to $5 million annually per proposal. Multi-year proposals up to three years are welcomed. These grants provide an opportunity for locally driven initiatives to improve water quality close to home and the Bay.
The workshops will be held on March 19 at the 4-H Center in College Park, and on March 23 at the Wye Research Center in Queenstown. Both workshops start at 10 a.m. and run to 12 p.m. Registration is open and a webinar registration is available for those who cannot attend in person.
For more information regarding the trust fund, Workshops and/or a copy of the RFP, please visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/ccp/funding/trust_fund.asp, or contact Jennifer Raulin at 410.260.8745
source: DNR press release
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