Community Challenge Planning Grants, TIGER II

This notice announces the availability of funding and requests proposals for the HUD's Community Challenge Planning Grants in conjunction with a portion of the Department of Transportation’s National Infrastructure Investments Grants that can be used for transportation planning grants.HUD’s $40 million Community Challenge Planning Grant Program will foster reform and reduce barriers to achieving affordable, economically vital, and sustainable communities.Such efforts may include amending or replacing local master plans, zoning codes, and building codes, either on a jurisdiction-wide basis or in a specific neighborhood, district, corridor, or sector to promote mixed-use development, affordable housing, the reuse of older buildings and structures for new purposes, and similar activities with the goal of promoting sustainability at the local or neighborhood level. HUD’s Community Challenge Planning Grant Program also supports the development of affordable housing through the development and adoption of inclusionary zoning ordinances and other activities such as acquisition of land for affordable housing projects.

DOT is authorized to use up to $35 million of the funds available for TIGER II Discretionary Grants for TIGER II Planning Grants to fund the planning, preparation, or design of surface transportation projects that would be eligible for funding under the TIGER II Discretionary Grant program.

Eligibility

State and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs),other political subdivisions of State or local governments, and multi-State or multijurisdictional groupings.

Pre-Applications are due by 5:00 PM, 30 days after this Notice is published in the Federal Register and applications must be submitted by August 23, 2010.

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Rural Business Opportunity Grants, Pre-Review Deadline April 28

Rural Development has an active Notice of Funding Availability for Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG). Grant funds may be used to assist in the economic development of rural areas by providing technical assistance for business development and economic development planning.

Eligible applicants: Local, State, or Federal government entities; nonprofit corporations; tribal entities; and cooperatives with members who are primarily rural residents and that conduct activities for the mutual benefit of the members.

Funding amounts: $7,480,000 total funds are allotted to this program in 2010, with a maximum of $250,000 available for each entity. No match required!

One-step process: Funding decisions are made on the basis of one round of applications, although Rural Development does offer a pre-review of applications if received by April 28.

Project examples: Grant funds may be used for, but are not limited to, the following purposes:

• Identify and analyze business opportunities that will use local rural materials or human resources. This includes opportunities in export markets, as well as feasibility and business plan studies.
• Identify, train, and provide technical assistance to existing or prospective rural entrepreneurs and managers;
• Establish business support centers and otherwise assist in the creation of new rural businesses;
• Conduct local community or multi-county economic development planning;
• Establish centers for training, technology, and trade that will provide training to rural businesses in the utilization of interactive communications technologies to develop international trade opportunities and markets;
• Conduct leadership development training of existing or prospective rural entrepreneurs and managers; or
• Pay reasonable fees and charges for professional services necessary to conduct the technical assistance, training, or planning functions.

Priorities:
Projects should be designed to help rural communities in the region create wealth so they are self-sustaining, repopulating and thriving economically, especially using any of the following USDA key strategies in sustainable ways:

1. Local and regional food systems as a strategy for encouraging production agriculture and related industries in new wealth creation;
2. Renewable energy generation, energy conservation, and/or climate change adaptation or mitigation as strategies for quality job creation;
3. Use of broadband and other critical infrastructure as a strategy to facilitate local entrepreneurship and expansion of market opportunities for small businesses;
4. Access to capital in rural areas as a strategy to ensure continuous business development and job creation/retention; and
5. Innovative utilization of natural resources as a strategy to expand business opportunities.

Key dates:
April 28, 2010: Optional pre-review deadline.
June 28, 2010: Final application due date.
September 15, 2010: Anticipated award date.

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MI Coastal Management Program, Due 5/15

It's time to get working on those coastal management program grant applications!

The guidance document outlines the basics:

Funds are being made available to encourage projects that reflect Michigan's Coastal Management Program (MCMP) objectives which include:

* Create and enhance coastal public access

* Protect, manage, and restore coastal resources, habitats, and watersheds

* Control development in erosion and flood hazard areas

* Research and educational outreach on Great Lakes and coastal issues

* Preserve and restore historic coastal structures important to Great Lakes maritime heritage

* Redevelop urban waterfronts, brownfields, and ports

* Protect coastal water quality and reduce nonpoint source pollution in coastal watersheds

* Minimize the adverse impacts of coastal growth and development

* Research, planning and zoning initiatives addressing the siting of wind energy facilities in the context of ensuring coastal resource protection

Who is eligible to apply?

* Coastal units of government including cities, counties, villages, and townships

* Area-wide agencies including regional planning agencies and conservation districts

* State agencies

* Universities and school districts

* Tribal governments

* Nonprofit organizations (non-construction projects only)

Important: Nonprofit organizations are not eligible to receive funding for construction. Nonprofit organizations wishing to use grant funding for construction projects on public lands, must apply through an eligible public entity. This eligible entity must provide assurance of public ownership.

What kinds of coastal projects are eligible for funding?

A. Studies, Designs and Land Use Plans: $60,000 maximum grant request. 1:1 non-federal match required for all projects except those specifically outlined in the Waiver of Match Requirements section. Projects may include:

* Site design, planning, and engineering for recreational sites and waterfront redevelopment

* Habitat restoration and resource management plans

* Maritime history interpretation, and historic structure restoration planning

* Coastal educational materials

* Natural features inventories

* Research on Great Lakes and coastal issues

* Studies for economic development planning, including ports and harbors

* Community master planning and zoning addressing management of coastal resources

* Watershed management plans

* Geographic Information System data development and mapping for coastal management

* Feasibility studies

Waiver of Match Requirements

The MCMP will consider waiving the 1:1 match requirement for proposals in specific categories of non-construction projects eligible for funding under Section 309 of the Coastal Zone Management Act, including:

∗ Development of community land use plans and zoning ordinances based on Smart Growth principles for coastal and waterfront communities (see http://coastalsmartgrowth.noaa.gov/ for information). Joint (multi-community) plans and ordinances are preferred

∗ Development of multi-community plans for protecting and managing coastal habitats and habitat corridors, including the associated research, inventories, and GIS data. Plans that include management of state-designated High Risk Erosion Areas, Environmental Areas, and Critical Dune Areas are preferred∗ Development of multi-community plans for establishing coastal greenways, blueways, and other trail systems for non-motorized recreation and public access, including the associated research, inventories, and GIS data3EQP 3594 (Rev. 02/10)

∗ Research, inventories, GIS data development, plans, and other projects that inform the planning and siting of coastal and offshore alternative energy infrastructure, and support the protection and management of natural, cultural, and historic resources

∗ Research, studies, and education/outreach efforts regarding the feasibility of low impact alternatives (i.e. beach nourishment, bio-engineering) to traditional shoreline armoring approaches.

∗ Development of coastal GIS parcel data in communities that contain designated High Risk Erosion Areas, Environmental Areas, and/or Critical Dune Areas

Competition for grant funds with no match requirement is expected to be intense. Applicants submitting proposals with substantially less than 1:1 match identified should understand that this significantly limits MCMP options for funding the projects. We urge all applicants to submit proposals including 1:1 match. All land use planning and GIS proposals must have a direct connection to coastal planning and/or coastal resource protection. This connection, along with ways in which the project will improve local coastal management, should be clearly described in the grant application.

B. Construction: $5,000 minimum and $50,000 maximum grant request. 1:1 non-federal match required for all projects. Projects may include:

* Habitat restoration and coastal resource protection

* Barrier-free retrofitting

* Low-cost construction projects, for example: boardwalks, scenic overlooks, educational and/or interpretive displays, trails, and bio-engineering shore protection demonstration projects

* Lighthouse restoration and preservation

Allowable construction projects are defined under Section 306A of the Coastal Zone Management Act. A project that involves any physical change to a site or existing structure is considered construction. All construction projects must be open to the general public, located on public land or secured through long-term lease (20 years minimum), and barrier-free accessible. MCMP project signs, (supplied by MCMP) acknowledging funding and displaying appropriate NOAA and state logos, must be permanently placed at project sites.

What kinds of coastal projects are NOT eligible for funding?

* Restroom facilities

* General recreational facilities (e.g., playground equipment, ball fields and courts)

* Maintenance of existing structures

* Hard shoreline armoring (rip-rap, sheet pile, gabions, etc.)

* Brick and mortar construction

* Dredging

* Design or construction of roadways

* Water and sewer line construction

* GIS-purchase of hardware

* GIS-maintenance activities (maintaining data)

* GIS-parcel mapping outside of coastal areas

* Demolition

* Chemical treatment and mechanical or manual removal of invasive species

* Recreation plans

* Dam improvements

* Drain improvements

Where projects must be located to be eligible for funding?All construction projects must be within Michigan's coastal boundary that generally lies 1,000 feet inland from the ordinary high water mark of the Great Lakes. Included within the boundary are coastal cities, state parks, coastal lakes, coastal floodplains, Great Lakes connecting waters, coastal river mouths, bays, and designated sand dune areas. Coastal boundary maps are available at www.michigan.gov/deqcoastal or you may call staff of the MCMP at 517-335-3168.4

EQP 3594 (Rev. 02/10)All project areas for studies, designs, land use master plans, local ordinances, GIS data development, and nonpoint pollution control must directly relate to protection or management of coastal resources or water quality.

Local Energy Assurance Planning Initiative, Deadline Oct 8

Today's featured grant applies to energy planning:

"A goal of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), in part, is to: “facilitate recovery from disruptions to the energy supply” and “enhance reliability and quicker repair of outages.” This initiative will create jobs at the local level and allow Cities to have well-developed, standardized energy assurance and resiliency plans that they can rely on during energy emergencies and supply disruptions. City governments will address energy supply disruption risks and vulnerabilities in their plans to lessen the devastating impact that such incidents have on the economy and the health and safety of citizens.

This initiative, (restricted to U.S. cities) called “Local Energy Assurance Planning” (hereinafter called the LEAP Initiative) focuses on developing new, or refining existing, plans to integrate new energy portfolios (renewables, biofuels, etc) and new applications, such as Smart Grid technology (http://www.oe.energy.gov/smartgrid.htm), into energy assurance and emergency preparedness plans. Better planning efforts will help contribute to the resiliency of the energy sector, including the electricity grid, by focusing on the entire energy supply system, which includes refining, storage, and distribution of fossil and renewable fuels."

City and township governments are eligible to apply, the program anticipates 50 awards between $60,000 and $300,000 each.

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