Lake Champlain Basin Program Reissues Request for Proposals for Organizational Support and Capacity Building 

Grand Isle, VT – The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) seeks proposals for projects that will support increased organizational capacity and long-term effectiveness of watershed organizations working in the Lake Champlain watershed. 

Funding requests of up to $20,000 will be considered. Approximately $250,000 is available to support awarded projects under this Request for Proposals. The LCBP anticipates supporting multiple projects through this funding opportunity. 

NEIWPCC/LCBP is announcing the re-issuance of this request for proposals (RFP) to align with the recent Executive Orders and to allow for all potential projects to be proposed that are in direct support of the ongoing efforts to preserve and advance water quality initiatives across the Lake Champlain Basin. 

This grant opportunity will support watershed organizations in the early stages of their development or assist established organizations in strengthening their capacity. Funding is not intended to support the development of new programming; this funding can be requested through other LCBP grant programs. 

Dr. Eric Howe, NEIWPCC Program Director of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, said, “Local watershed organizations throughout the Lake Champlain Basin take on an incredible amount of work to restore our waterways. Our goal with Organizational Support funding is to help ensure these groups have the administrative tools and processes they need to carry out this essential work.” 

These projects are supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC on behalf of the LCBP by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.   

Proposals are due at 12pm on March 20th. Awarded projects will begin work in May 2025. More information, including grant guidelines and applications, is available on the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s website at lcbp.org/grants.   

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The Patrick Leahy 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, quality management 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/.