Lake Champlain Basin Program Offers Grants to Engage Communities with Disadvantages in Clean Water Work
Grand Isle, VT – The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) seeks proposals for programs that will engage communities with disadvantages in water quality, habitat, recreation, or access concerns in the Lake Champlain watershed. The Program anticipates awarding up to $400,000 to support direct engagement by liaisons to build relationships with these communities over multiple years.
Individual funding requests up to $150,000 will be considered. The funded programs will identify and elevate the needs and concerns of communities that face barriers to accessing or participating in water quality improvement programs and processes. Potential outcomes of the programs include:
- meaningful opportunities to provide input on environmental program decisions.
- improved representation of community voices.
- more water quality and ecosystem health projects that serve the needs of communities with disadvantages.
- improved water quality or watershed health in communities with disadvantages.
- improved understanding of water quality and watershed health within these communities.
Dr. Eric Howe, Director of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, said, “Thriving communities and a healthy lake are inextricably linked. These community liaisons will have a pivotal role in achieving these mutual goals in the Lake Champlain basin.”
The liaison program will advance the LCBP’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across our work. In response to the federal Justice40 Initiative, the LCBP has developed a definition of Communities with Disadvantages to ensure benefits are distributed equitably. Consistent with federal goals, the LCBP has set a goal to award at least 40% of grant program funds to support projects that benefit communities with disadvantages.
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Mae Kate Campbell to discuss project ideas before proposal submission. General questions submitted by March15, 2024 and the LCBP’s responses will be posted on the LCBP website. The LCBP will also host question-and-answer sessions on March 11th at 1:00 pm (register) and on March 25th at 9:00 am (register).
The grants will support projects that advance the goals of the long-term Lake Champlain management plan Opportunities for Action. They are supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC on behalf of the LCBP by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Proposals are due to the LCBP on April 11, 2024.
Details, including grant guidelines and selection criteria, are available on the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s website at lcbp.org/grants.
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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, finances, and contracts. NEIWPCC is a program partner of LCBP. 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 https://www.lcbp.org/.
