Grants
The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) has awarded outreach, research and restoration projects throughout the greater Charlotte Harbor watershed since 1996. A directory of projects is available of these awards. Final reports are posted as part of these directories.
The CHNEP has awarded three types of grants and offers assistance in obtaining grants from other sources. Some years, the CHNEP also offers funds in support of a public conference. Florida residents, organizations, businesses, government agencies, schools, colleges and universities may apply for grants to support projects that occur within the Program study area. The projects must help implement the CHNEP's plan, known as the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, to protect the environment. (A list of the objectives and priority actions that help fulfill the CCMP is also available.)
1) Micro-Grants applications are accepted throughout the year. These grants are available for up to $250 for projects that can be initiated and completed between October 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012.
2) Public Outreach Grants are available once a year. Outreach projects, which are most often funded as public outreach grants, help multiply the number of people who are aware of the importance of estuaries and the protection of watersheds. In 2010 the maximum award was increased from $3,000 to $5,000. Funding decisions for FY12 funds have been completed. Guidance on how to apply for a grant in FY13 (for projects that will occur after November 1, 2012) is available as of Nov. 30, 2011.
Guidance provided in FY13: Please follow steps provided in the Public Outreach Grant Guidance Document to apply for this grant. (You need to follow the link for the PDF file that provides complete instructions.) The deadline to submit draft applications is 5 p.m. on September 5, 2012 and to submit final applications is noon on September 17, 2012. This is a two-step process and applications will only be considered if applicants have met both deadlines. Decisions as to which projects will be supported will be made by November 2012. If you have any questions, please contact Maran Hilgendorf at mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org, 239/338-2556 ext 240.
3) Research and Restoration Partners Grants were only available once a year but, due to budget cuts, these grants haven't been available since FY09. This site will be updated when research and restoration partner grants will next be available. Guidance from the FY09 cycle is provided only for your reference. The research and restoration projects, which are most often funded as research and restoration partner projects, directly benefit the natural resources in the watershed, increase technical knowledge and often include an educational aspect. R&R grants provide up to $20,000 per participating partner and require a 50% match.
Guidance for Research and Restoration Partners Grants (for reference only) for the FY09 grant cycle is available as of August 20. The process is similar to that followed last year but the cycle has changed. The deadline to submit a proposal is September 25, 2008. In FY09 (October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009), $60,000 was available through research and restoration partner grants. Please follow steps provided in the Guidance for Research and Restoration Partners Grants. Decisions as to which projects will be supported will be known by mid-November. Agenda for TAC Grants Committee meeting, which will be held from 9 a.m. to approximately 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 10, 2008 at Charlotte County Utilities/Eastport Campus in Training Room B at 25550 Harborview Rd in Port Charlotte. For those who submitted proposals who aren't able to personally participate, the call-in phone number is 941/764-4308. For more information, contact Judy Ott at jott@swfrpc.org, 239/338-2556 ext 230. She will post a response to all questions received on the CHNEP FTP site for all to read. If you have Internet access, you can visit an FTP site. Open your Internet browser then, where you would normally begin typing a website (www) address, type ftp://ftp.swfrpc.org, enter user name of chnep, password is chnepaccess. The questions and answers will be in a folder named "FY2009 Research & Restoration Partners RFP Questions & Answers."
If you were awarded a grant and it is time to request reimbursement, please be sure to include a completed and signed reimbursement request form (Word file : PDF file) in your request.
Do you have a project that needs funding? The CHNEP offers grant writing assistance to seek funding sources other than from CHNEP to its partners for projects that help protect and restore the estuaries and watersheds from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter Haven.
Grants offered by others are sometimes listed on this website.