URBANWATERS A Partnership for Restoring Urban Waterways and Revitalizing Communities Featured Funding Opportunity Chi-Cal Rivers Fund 2018 Request for Proposals Webinar for prospective applicants Tomorrow-April 17, 2018 at 10:00 AM Central Time. Pre-Proposal Due Date: Tuesday, May 15 by 10:59 PM Central Time Full Proposal Due Date: Thursday, July 19 by 10:59 PM Central Time The Chi-Cal Rivers Fund is inviting applications for competitive grant funding. With a focus on the major waterways of the Chicago and Calumet region, the program will award grants to reduce stormwater runoff with green infrastructure, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, and improve access to and use of natural areas. Approximately $1 million is expected to be available for grant awards. Individual grants typically range from $100,000 to $300,000. Projects that meet or exceed a 1:1 match ratio will be more competitive. Plant Trees with the SCA Calumet Tree Conservation Corps! Join the Student Conservation Association for a community tree planting in Hammond. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes and bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated. All project supplies (tools, gloves, water) are provided. **Plantings will take place rain or shine!!** Mac Arthur Golf Course When: Friday, April 27, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Where: 139th Stand Indianapolis Blvd, East Chicago, IN 46312. Parking available on the south-east side of the course, just north of the tennis courts. Please walk through the main entrance gate to check in. Partners in the Press Officials hail completion of joint Lake Station-Gary sewer project (from the Chicago Tribune) The cities of Gary and Lake Station celebrated the completion of a joint $2.4 million ------- sewer improvement project Thursday that officials said will decrease the threat of residential sewer backups. U.S. Rep. Peter J. Visclosky, D-Gary, joined Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson and Lake Station Mayor Christopher Anderson at the Gary Sanitary District's pumping station at 15th Place and Clay Street to mark the project's completion. LGS Plumbing Inc., of Crown Point, completed the 4,400- foot Gary section for $1,317,810 and a 2,900-foot section in Lake Station was done under a $1,049,870 contract by Integrated Environmental Solutions Inc., of Gary. Visclosky said federal funding covered about $2.25 million of the joint project. Gary's share was $408,250, while Lake Station's was $325,000, he said. Officials hailed the project saying it will reduce leaks, improve flow and reduce shutdowns caused by pipe breaks. Read more in the Chicago Tribune article. 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. Legacy Foundation Neighborhood Improvement Projects Neighborhood improvement projects in 4 "Spotlight" communities: Miller, Gary - Downtown/Emerson, Griffith, and Hobart NW, and the Choice Neighborhood community of University Park East. *Award range: $500-$5,000 *Applications due April 20. National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program Grant category: Prepare for Pests, Threats, Natural Disasters & Associated Changes & Risks. Projects should clearly broaden the base of participation through the involvement of non-traditional partnerships and the inclusion of underserved communities with applicable local, state and/or national urban forestry contacts and address national or multi-state, multi-tribal land urban and community forestry issues. • Applications due April 30, 2018 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. • Letters of Interest due April 30 Forest Service GLRI Grants Program Areas include Mitigate Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Impacts, Reduce Runoff from Degraded Sites through Green Infrastructure, and Enhance Coastal Wetland Filtration *Award Range: $50,000-$200,000 with 20% match *Applications due May 11th. Webinar Thursday. April 5th -1:00 PM Central ------- Adobe Connect: https://usfs.adobeconnect.com/na-500/ Phone: 888-844-9904 (access code 6611078#) Quick Impact Placebased Grants Designed to fund the type of space enhancement and community transformation that sparks community wide conversation and creativity. Examples include: alley activation, enhancement of public assets into a new or usable space, interactive life-size games for public use, pop-up public gathering spots, transforming vacant store fronts, and unique signage. *Award Range: $2,500 and $5,000 and a local match of 50% *Applications due June 1. NPS Challenge Cost-share Project Goals include: 1. Improve recreation opportunities, access and infrastructure; 2. Protection and restoration of trails or rivers/riverside lands; 3. Stewardship through public engagement; or 4. Increasing public use and awareness. Eligibility limited to specific NPS-administered areas. The NPS staff will submit the application, and the partner organization will receive and make use of the funds awarded for the proposed project. *Maximum award -$25,000 with 1-to-1 by non-federal match *Applications due May 25. Upcoming Events and Webinars LMCP Public Input Meeting April 18, 6:30 PM CDT Portage Lakefrontand Riverwalk, 1000 Riverwalk Drive, Portage, IN Northwest Indiana 2018 Earth Day Celebration April 21, 9a.m.-2 p.m. Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Rd., Valparaiso, IN Brownfield Education Panel April 25, 8:00 -11:30 am NIRPC/NWI Forum Office, 6100 Southport Rd, Portage, IN RSVP to knelson@nwiforum.org or (219) 763-6303 Webinar: Using the EcoService Models Library May 10, 34 pm ET Webinar: Storm-Resilient Urban Forests: Response Resilience. Are You Prepared to Respond? May 23, 2018 1:00 pm US/Eastern Training on Early Detection of Invasive Plant Species May 31, 2018 Indiana Dunes Visitor Center Contact Susan Mihalo at 219-981-9183 or smihalo@tnc.org Construction Site Inspectors Training Certification ------- June 11-12 West Lafayette, IN 7th Annual Hobart Water Festival June 16th, 10 am -4 pm Purdue Rainscapinq Workshop June 19-20, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (CST) Lake County Government Center,Crown Point, IN 46307 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. ------- |