Long Island Sound Futures Fund 2019 Applicant Webinar
Webinar Instructions Jessica.Lillquist@nfwf.org PROBLEMS? Type it into the “Enter a question for staff.” We will try to resolve it during the webinar.
Agenda Welcome Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) Overview Application Guidance www.nfwf.org/lisff
Welcome and Introductions
Purpose Restoration and protection of the health and living resources of Long Island Sound (LIS) including: Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds TIP! In the “Problem” and/or “Solution” section of the proposal narrative reference relevant parts of the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) Update 2015 @ http://longislandsoundstudy.net/2015/09/2015- comprehensive-conservation-and-management-plan/
Sources & Amount of Available Funding ~ $2 million from:
Boundary for nitrogen removal projects CT, MA, NH, NY, VT
Available Amounts of Funds for LARGE Grants Implementation Grants. $20,000 to $250,000 awarded to support projects that result in “ quantifiable ” pollutant reductions (e.g., to further nitrogen removal). Design/Planning Grants. $20,000 to $100,000 awarded to support planning and design activities that set the stage for on-the-ground implementation of water quality projects.
Program Priorities Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds. Improve water quality by delivering projects to reduce nitrogen loading. Primary Strategies : • Green infrastructure. • Conservation activities that reduce pollution at its source e.g., alternative OWTS, eliminate/reduce chemical use in landscaping, agricultural projects: soil health, use of controlled release nitrogen fertilizer, improved manure management. • Low cost retrofits at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). • Restore freshwater wetlands to improve nitrogen processing. • Restore riparian buffers to reduce nitrogen loading from public and private lands.
Examples of Prior Grants in MA, NH, VT • • Enhancing Nitrogen Removal at the Springfield Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (MA) Install nitrogen sensors and use information from those sensors to improve operations during the biological treatment process at the Springfield Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, Springfield, Massachusetts. The project will eliminate nitrogen discharges by 1,000 pounds annually into the Connecticut River which drains into Long Island Sound. • A Watershed Monitoring Strategy to Support the Long Island Sound Nitrogen Strategy (MA, NH, VT) Develop a water quality monitoring strategy designed to collect data about the nutrient status of waters, and provide the data to complement and enhance the Long Island Sound Nitrogen Reduction Strategy within the Connecticut River watershed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. • Innovative Diversion to Reduce Wastewater Nitrogen in the Long Island Sound Watershed (VT). Install technology to divert urine at five sites in Windham County, Vermont. The project will prevent 350 pounds of nitrogen from entering the Connecticut River and ultimately Long Island Sound.
Evaluation Criteria • Program Goals and Priorities • Technical Merit • Budget • Qualifications • Communication • Match
QUESTIONS?
Grant Guidelines Project Performance Period. Start within six months and be completed within NEW! 12-18 months after notification of grant award. Project start dates cannot be before October 1, 2019. Eligible Applicants. Non-profit 501(c) organizations; state, tribal, and local governments; and academic and educational institutions. For- profit entities are not eligible for grants but may partner with eligible applicants. Quality Assurance. Monitoring, data collection or data use? You will need to prepare an EPA Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for approval. Budget time and resources to do this. NEW QAPP GUIDANCE! @ https://www.nfwf.org/lisff/Pages/quality-assurance.aspx
Grant Guidelines Match Requirement • Contribute non-federal matching cash funds and/or in-kind services valued at a minimum of 40 percent of the total project cost e.g., cash, in-kind contributions of staff and volunteer time, work performed, materials and services donated, forgone indirect or other tangible contributions to the project objectives and outcomes. • Calculate required match by multiplying the amount of funds requested from the LISFF by 4 and then dividing by 6. For example, if you are requesting $100,000, then the project match is $66,666 ([$100,000 x 4]/6). [Updated as of 4/2/2019] • Preference will be given to projects with 1:1 > match.
Ineligible uses of Grant Funds • Projects that have received funding for three consecutive years • Submitting more than 3 proposals per organization • Stand-alone public access or signs • Research • New educational curriculum • Marketing efforts that serve to promote an organization and its initiatives • Funding for lunches/snacks, t-shirts/promotional items • Political advocacy/fundraising, lobbying/litigation; compliance w/ legal requirements including permit conditions, mitigation, settlements…
QUESTIONS?
Parts of a LISFF Proposal
Narrative Problem statement, solution, technical merit (methods/workplan), qualifications, communication/transferrability, past performance. 12 page limit.
Easygrants
Your Easygrants Home Page
Parts of the LISFF Easygrants Application
Project Information
Project Title, Description, Abstract Title: Describe Primary Activity/Result e.g., Innovative Diversion to Reduce Wastewater Nitrogen in the Long Island Sound Watershed (VT). Description: • 1 st Sentence: Describe primary activity and where. e.g., Install technology to divert urine, a source of nitrogen, at five sites in Windham County, Vermont. • 2 nd Sentence: Describe project impact or result. e.g., The project will prevent 350 pounds of nitrogen from entering the Connecticut River and ultimately Long Island Sound.
Project Title, Description, Abstract (contd.) Abstract: Describe more detailed primary activity, describe the problem or challenge being addressed by the project, how the project will solve the problem, major project activities, partners and results Primary activity: Install technology to divert urine from waste to be recycled into sanitized fertilizer, and applied to hay fields in Windham County, Vermont. Challenge/problem: A large amount of nitrogen discharged into Long Island Sound comes from residential septic system leaching into soils. Excess nitrogen represents a threat to the health of the Sound. Approximately 50% of Vermont’s homes use septic systems which are not designed to remove nitrogen. Solution: One alternative to costly upgrades of home systems is to install technology that helps prevent leaching. TIP! Examples of Project Descriptions in Tip Sheet @ www.nfwf.org/lisff
Project Title, Description, Abstract (contd.) Major Activities: The project will: 1) Assess and install urine diversion technology at five sites; 3) Select a Windham County village as the residential installation site; 2) Pump-out, store, sanitize, transport, and apply urine as fertilizer; 3) Document nitrogen reclaimed by: type of diversion fixture, decrease in nitrogen volume from sites before and after installation, urine volume sanitized, fertilizer volume, and acres of fertilized fields; 4) Document challenges, economic and technical, to scaling-up the diversion technology, and collect information from practitioners about practical use of these systems; 5) Conduct outreach about nitrogen, urine diversion, and waterways; and 6) Showcase the project in press, electronic media, tours; and in a presentation to the Long Island Sound Study. Result: The project will advance a technology as an alternative to current decentralized and centralized sanitation management.
Project Map
Uploads
Metrics
Metrics TIP! Check out the calculators for stormwater, sediments in LISFF RFP! Think about a dashboard to track social media impact.
Project Budget TIP! “Total Costs” on BUDGET page MUST = “Requested Amount” on PROJECT INFORMATION page
Match
Project Permits and Approvals
Submitting the Full Proposal
QUESTIONS? Easygrants 101 “Parts” of a LISFF Proposal
Important Dates IMPORTANT DATES (subject to change). Please check the LISFF of the website for the most current dates and information at www.nfwf.org/lisff • Full Proposal Due Date: 5/20/2019 11:59pm ET • Review Period Summer/Fall 2019 • Awards Announced Mid-October 2019
Tips for Preparing a Successful Proposal Go to the LISFF webpage at www.nfwf.org/lisff. Print out and review the available resources including: o Tip Sheet. Step by step guide on using the online system. Familiarize yourself with the online system. www.nfwf.org/easygrants Start collecting required financial documents and letters of support early Please Read the RFP
Help and Feedback? Jessica.Lillquist@nfwf.org, 202/857-0166 Traffic control for your requests!
Good Luck!
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