Lake Champlain Basin Program To Release Emergency Flood Relief Grants

Grand Isle, VT – The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) has released a Request for Proposals for Emergency Flood Relief Grants of up to $7,500 to support organizations in the Lake Champlain Basin that were affected by the July 2023 flood events.

Watershed groups, museums, libraries, and similar organizations play an important role in restoring and protecting Lake Champlain and its watershed. The intent of this emergency grant program is to help these groups recover quickly from the flooding and resume the services they provide toward meeting the goals outlined in Opportunities for Action, the LCBP’s watershed management plan for the Lake Champlain basin.

These grants can be used to replace office equipment or supplies, repair damage caused by floodwaters, purchase materials or equipment needed for flood-related surveys, or support personnel responding to flood remediation.

Organizations must have nonprofit 501(c)(3) status (NY Soil and Water and VT Natural Resource Conservation Districts are also eligible) to receive these grants. Organizations must have a mission statement that focuses on achieving water quality improvements in the Lake Champlain Basin or that supports at least one of the interpretive themes of the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership.

Applications are due August 21, 2023. Award notifications will be issued by August 28, 2023. Invoices for supplies and repair services must be submitted for reimbursement prior to September 15, 2023. Invoices for personnel responding to flood remediation work must be submitted prior to December 31, 2023.

The LCBP anticipates awarding up to $100,000 total in grants. These projects are supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC on behalf of the LCBP by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, and the International Joint Commission.

Grant details and an electronic application submission link are available on the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s website at lcbp.org/grants.

For more information, contact Kerry Crowningshield, LCBP Office Manager, at kcrowningshield@lcbp.org or (802) 372-3213.

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The Lake Champlain Basin Program coordinates and funds efforts that benefit the Lake Champlain Basin’s water quality, fisheries, wetlands, wildlife, recreation, and cultural resources. The program works in partnership with federal agencies, state and provincial agencies from New York, Vermont, and Québec, local communities, businesses, and citizen groups. NEIWPCC—a regional commission that helps the states of the Northeast preserve and advance water quality—serves as the primary program administrator of LCBP at the request of the Lake Champlain Steering Committee and administers the program’s personnel and finances. LCBP is a program partner of NEIWPCC. For further information, contact the Lake Champlain Basin Program, 54 West Shore Road, Grand Isle, VT at (802) 372-3213 / (800) 468-5227 or visit www.lcbp.org.