URBANWATERS A Partnership for Restoring Urban Waterways and Revitalizing Communities Next NWI Urban Waters Meeting April 5,2008 The next NWI Urban Waters Partnership meeting will be held jointly with NIRPC-EMPC on Thursday April 5, 2018 at 9:00am at NIRPC. The tentative agenda includes a presentation from and discussion with Carl Wodrich on IDNR's new in-lieu fee program for stream and wetland mitigation. Lake Michigan Coastal Program Seeks Input on Funding The Lake Michigan Coastal Program (LMCP) is seeking public input on funding priorities for the 2019 funding cycle of the Coastal Grants Program. A public kickoff meeting will be held on April 18, 2018 at 6:30 p.m at Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk t will begin with a short presentation about the Indiana DNR Lake Michigan Coastal Grants Program. Following the presentation, the public will have an opportunity to talk with Coastal Program staff and Coastal Advisory Board members and provide their suggestions for projects which should receive priority consideration. You may also submit suggestions for priority directly to Sarah Nirnetz LMCP Grant Specialist by May 18. The Coastal Advisory Board (CAB) will take public input into consideration and vote on which priorities to adopt for the 2019 funding cycle at the June 20, 2018 CAB meeting. This meeting will also be open to the public, however public input will not be sought at that time. The Lake Michigan Coastal Grants Program is an annual competitive grants program that awards funds to units of local government, regional and state agencies, colleges and universities, and non-profit organizations. The program funds may be expended on six categories of projects: public access or habitat improvements, land acquisition, planning and coordination, education and outreach, applied research, and emerging issues projects. The LMCP is funded through the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Coastal Management. LMCP Hiring Outreach and Education Assistant The Outreach and Education Assistant functions as part of a team to perform ------- professional and administrative duties required | n diana to implement the Lake Michigan Coastal j lake Michigan Program (LMCP) within the DNR's Division of PROGRAM Nature Preserves. The Outreach and Education Assistant will assist the LMCP team and , , ^ ^ . , _ . , _ ...... Lake Michigan Coastal Program logo. Special Projects Coordinator in three areas: 1) Outreach and education communications, coordination, planning, and implementation, 2) Good Neighbor Outreach and Neighborhood Ambassador programs, 3) Coastal Training Program assistance with marketing, scheduling and planning for presentations to LMCP stakeholders. Application deadline: March 5 Funding Opportunities The Northwest Indiana Urban Waters Partnership may be able to provide assistance to further your initiatives by exploring grant opportunities, building partnerships, and helping you to developing competitive proposals. Contact Jen Birchfield to discuss your projects and ways we can help. Groundwork USA Funding and Technical Assistance Opportunity Groundwork USA, in partnership with NPS and EPA, is now accepting Letters of Interest from communities wishing to begin the process of applying for Groundwork USA program funding and technical assistance and to join the Groundwork Network. • Informational webinar February 27. 3-4 pm ET • Letters of Interest due April 30 Enterprise Collaborative Action Grants RFP Grants to build community agency, engage local voices, and connect to long-term community goals. • Awards up to $5,000 • Proposals due March 9 Sustain our Great Lakes Funding for habitat restoration, green infrastructure, and landowner technical assistance in the Great Lakes basin. • Award Range: $100,000-$1 million with 1:1 match encouraged • Pre-proposals due 2/23/18 - Proposals due March 15 EPA Environmental Education Funding for locally-focused environmental education projects that increase awareness and knowledge about environmental and conservation issues. • Award Range: $50,000-$300,000 with 25% match • Proposals due March 15 NOAA Coastal Resilience Grants Funding for projects that conserve and restore sustainable ecosystem processes and functions and reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities and infrastructure from the impacts of extreme weather events, climate hazards, and changing ocean conditions. • Award range: $75,000 to $2 million with 2:1 non-federal match • Pre-proposals due March 7, 2018 NOAA Great Lakes Habitat Restoration under GLRI Funding for habitat restoration in the Great Lakes region, supporting healthy ------- ecosystems and resilient coastal communities in Great Lakes states. • Proposals due March 12 • Award range: $50,000-$3 million with 1:1 match encouraged Indiana American Water Environmental Grants Grants support innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore and/or protect watersheds and community water supplies. • Proposals should be postmarked by March 26, 2018 • Maximum grant amount: $10,000. NOAA Environmental Literacy Grants The goal of this opportunity is to support the education of K-12 students and the public, so they are knowledgeable of the ways in which their community can become more resilient to extreme weather events and/or other environmental hazards, and become involved in achieving that resilience. • Due April 6, 2018 • Awards $250,000 -$500,000 Upcoming Events and Webinars NIRPC Environmental Management Policy Committee Meeting Featuring presentation on Brownfield Initiatives in Northwest Indiana March 1, 9:00-10:30 AM Central NIRPC Lake Michigan Room, 6100 Southport Road, Portage, IN Free Green Infrastructure Training March 9, 8:00 to 12 noon Hazel Crest, IL CommuniTree Tree Planting & Care Workshop March 21, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM NIRPC, 6100 Southport Road, Portage, IN LMCP Public Input Meeting April 18, 6:30 PM CDT Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk, 1000 Riverwalk Drive, Portage, IN River Rally April 29 - May 2, 2018 Olympic Valley, CA Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference May 15-17,2018 Milwaukee, Wl One Water Summit July 10-12, 2018 Minneapolis, MN Upcoming Webinars Webinar: Green Alleys: An Innovative Approach to Stormwater Management March 7, 3:00 pm CDT ------- Webinar: Redefine affordabilitv for the 21st century March 7, 12:00 PM -1:00 PM CST Webinar: Introduction to EPA's Watershed Management Optimization Support Tool (WMOS~n March 8,1:00 pm Eastern Webinar: Reduce lead risks and embrace the mission of protecting public health March 21, 12:00 PM -1:00 PM CDT Webinar: Accelerate technology adoption to build efficiency and improve water service April 4, 2018 12:00 PM -1:00 PM CDT Resources, Tools, and Reports Nominations for 2018 U.S. Water Prize Due March 8 New Tool Helps Cities Use Trees for Stormwater Management Report: The Business of Planting Tress: A Growing Investment Opportunity Article: Emerging issues in urban ecology: implications for research, social justice- human health, and well-being USDA Office of Environmental Markets Release of Nutrient Tracking Tool The Northwest Indiana Urban Waters Partnership focuses on the Lake Michigan watershed in Lake, LaPorte and Porter Counties, Indiana. Urban Waters works to connect urban communities, particularly those that are overburdened or economically distressed, with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies and state and local partners. The goals are to improve the Nation's water systems and to promote their economic, environmental and social benefits. ------- |