$4 Million Available for CT Projects

Gov. Rell:  $4 Million in Grants Available for Ecosystem Management, Habitat Restoration and Coastal Projects

Hartford, CT, June 9, 2010—Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced that the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) is making available up to $4 million in grants for projects aimed at protecting habitats and restoring ecosystems across the state, including coastal areas along Long Island Sound.

“These dollars can be used by cities and towns and other organizations to help fund projects to restore or protect unique and critical lands, ranging from forest habitats to tidal wetlands,” Governor Rell said.  ”

Funding for these projects is available from a number of environmental enforcement settlements, as well as from the Long Island Sound Fund, which is supported primarily by the sale of Preserve the Sound license plates.

The suggested minimum limit for projects is $100,000, although less expensive, high quality projects will also be considered. The suggested upper limit for projects is $500,000.  Grant applications are due to DEP by July 29, 2010.

“It made good sense to combine our settlement funds with the resources of the Long Island Sound Fund,” said DEP Commissioner Amey Marrella.  “This combined funding offers us the chance to build on the work of the Long Island Sound Fund to support more projects, larger projects, and a much wider variety of ecosystem and habitat restoration projects.”

Projects eligible for funding include:

• Ecosystem Management projects which provide improved ecosystem serviceswithin the State of Connecticut, including, but not limited to physical habitat restoration or preservation of unfragmented forested areas, grassland bird habitat, migratory corridors for wildlife and fish, land acquisition to protect unique and critical habitats and groundwater recharge areas, and activities that support climate change adaptation strategies such as land preservation to allow for the landward migration of tidal wetlands and other threatened coastal and riparian habitats; and

• Protection and restoration of habitat essential to the Long Island Sound ecosystem including tidal wetlands, mudflats, beaches and dunes, coves and embayments.

The competitive grant proposals will be reviewed by a DEP technical review team.  The Long Island Sound Fund Advisory Committee, comprised of members of the public with an active interest in Long Island Sound issues and expertise, will also evaluate Long Island Sound related proposals and recommend projects for funding to the Commissioner of DEP.

To view the Request for Proposals (RFP), visit www.ct.gov/dep.  For additional information, contact Kate Hughes Brown, Grants and Outreach Coordinator, at (860) 424-3652 or by email at kate.brown@ct.gov .