As I look out my window this morning I see some robins hoping around and some tulips just starting to poke up through the ground and it brings me hope that spring is on the way.  Soon I will be able to work outside in the yard, start planting my garden and enjoying warmer days in the sun.  Springtime usually brings a lot of planning from groups on outside projects they want to accomplish.  Today I am sharing a few environmental projects for communities and habitats.

Environmental Protection Agency: Technical Assistance Program for Sustainable Communities
Application deadline: March 31, 2011
This program provides support for the development and delivery of technical assistance programs that build the capacity of local and tribal governments to implement smart growth and sustainable communities development approaches that protect the environment, improve public health, facilitate job creation and economic opportunity, and improve overall quality of life. Priority will be given to programs that include provisions for standardized, “ready to go" smart growth/sustainable communities development tools, encompassing identified smart growth principles and/or the following livability principles: provide more transportation choices; promote equitable, affordable housing; enhance economic competitiveness; support existing communities; and value communities and neighborhoods. More details can be found on their website.

Fish and Wildlife Service: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection
Application deadline: April 1, 2011
This program provides support to state and other partner projects for long-term habitat restoration, enhancement or protection, and conservation of native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, particularly migratory birds. Preference will be given to activities that help meet the habitat goals of the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture Implementation Plan or the Lower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Plain Bird Conservation Region Plan, other relevant bird conservation plans, and State Wildlife Action Plans.  More information can be found here.

Habitat Protection Programs in the Great Lakes Basin Supported Freshwater Future Grant Programs
Application Deadline: March 31, 2011
The Freshwater Future Grant Programs promote activities that strengthen the role of community groups working locally to protect habitats in the Great Lakes Basin. The Project Grant Program provides support for grassroots groups engaging in advocacy activities and projects to protect local lakes, rivers, wetlands, and other aquatic habitats. The Climate Funding Program offers grants to encourage local communities to become better prepared to handle the impacts of climate change.  The Insight Services Grant Program provides grants to be used for Freshwater Future’s professional services in organizational development and strategy assistance, including one-on-one coaching and group training and facilitation. Requests for this program may be submitted at any time. Visit Freshwater Future’s website for application guidelines for each of these programs.  More details regarding this program can be found here.

Applications are being accepted for the 2011 Environmental Grant Program offered by the American Water Works Company, a US water and wastewater utility company. Grants are available in American Water service areas in ten states: California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

This grant program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore, or protect watersheds, surface water, and/or groundwater supplies through partnerships.  To qualify, proposed projects must address a source water or watershed protection need in the community; be a new or innovative program for the community, or serve as a significant expansion to an existing program; be carried out by a formal or informal partnership between two or more organizations; and provide evidence of sustainability (continued existence after the American Water grant monies are utilized).

Deadline for entries is March 25, 2011.  To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:Located within an American Water service area, must be completed between May 1, 2011 and November 30, 2011, and be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program.
Complete program information and application requirements are available at the American Water Web site.

For some reason the past week or two I have been using the phrase; “a mixed bag of goods” a lot. Whether that’s the randomness of projects I’ve been working on, or the lack of consistency between what I expect and what I get; regardless, that phrase seems to express where I’m at. Now I’ll be the first to admit I enjoying flowering my speech with quaint phrases (I like to call “Hoosierisms”) such as; “Between you, me and fence post” this weeks blog post is “a mixed bag of goods”.

To start off with there are two foundation opportunities that would be ideal for those groups looking to do small projects around their community. The first is a Constellation Energy’s EcoStar Grant due March 16th to non-profits looking to do projects that focus on Recycling projects, tree plantings, educational type of events for environmental stewardship, projects that support energy conservation measures, wetland restoration, community gardens and urban forests. Awarded funds are up to $5,000 and applications can be found at http://www.constellation.com/portal/site/constellation/menuitem.999b6fed85785a2399084010016176a0
The second is the Heineman Foundation which provides seed money to start projects for environmental research that will help prevent, reduce and/or eliminate water degradation. Projects can last for 3-5 years and average awards are $20,000-50,000. More information can be found at: http://www.heinemanfoundation.org/application_process/guidelines/

Next, I wanted to pass along a scholarship opportunity for members of Farm Credit Services serving Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. Thirty-six scholarships ranging from $1,000-1,500 will be awarded to college students enrolled in agriculture programs. Applications can be found at www.e-farmcredit.com under the link Community Support.

Lastly, I wanted to “put a bug in your ear” about USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Grant. Applications may be submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally-based network or partnership of public or private entities. These collaborations may include the following entities: State cooperative extension services; Federal, State, or tribal agencies; community based organizations and nongovernmental organizations; junior and four-year colleges or universities or foundations maintained by a college or university; private for-profit organizations; and other appropriate partners. This is a competitive grants program for the purpose of providing education, outreach, training and technical assistance to benefit beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States. Applications are due April 6, 2010 and there is a 25% matching requirement. More information can be found at http://ww.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/bfrdp.html

Now, “don’t be slower than molasses in January.” Check out these opportunities and plan to turn in your application soon.