The New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP) is requesting proposals to support disadvantaged communities seeking to advance research, planning, and/or infrastructure projects that will help build climate resiliency while addressing water quality and related management issues in those communities.
Donor Name: Hudson River Foundation
State: New York and New Jersey
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/01/2023
Size of the Grant: $50,000 – $100,000
Details:
The New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary is a complex ecological system at the heart of the nation’s largest metropolitan area. The New York – New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP) brings the benefits of the Clean Water Act to the people who live, work, and recreate on their shared waterways.
Created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the request of the governors of New York and New Jersey, HEP is an ongoing collaboration to develop and implement a consensus driven plan to protect, conserve and restore the estuary. HEP decisions and activities are carried out by staff and partners organized through committees and work groups.
Objectives
Through this RFP, HEP will identify and support four to eight proposals that meet one or ideally more of the following objectives:
- Enable disadvantaged communities in the Hudson – Raritan Estuary to fully participate in planning and decisions about coastal adaptation and other infrastructure projects being advanced by federal, state, and local agencies. Proposals that can describe how community input could be incorporated into the federal, state or local decisions or otherwise demonstrate coordination with the lead project agency are particularly encouraged.
- Advance community-initiated projects that will enhance climate resiliency, including shoreline improvements, stormwater management measures, and natural and nature-based resiliency features. They are especially interested in projects that will help communities gain access to future federal and state infrastructure funding opportunities and demonstrate how to incorporate social vulnerability of communities to make better informed decisions
- Address gaps in data and knowledge that will improve community and agency understanding of baseline conditions, the current and future impacts of climate change, community values, and/or the effectiveness of alternative adaptation measures and management strategies. This can include efforts to assess the state of existing knowledge as well as the development, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs. Projects that engage community members to participate in the co-production of required data and knowledge are especially encouraged
- Demonstrate the power of collaboration between community, government, independent scientists, and/or utilities. Addressing climate change requires a team effort. Proposals that engage multiple stakeholders or seek to establish successful community involvement in such partnerships are highly desired.
Funding Information
A total of approximately $400,000 is available. HEP anticipates awarding four to eight grants of between $50,000 – $100,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status or local government entities located in or otherwise serving disadvantaged communities as defined by HEP using criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the states of New York or New Jersey, and/or HEP’s 2017 – 2025 Action Agenda
- Organizations without 501(c) (3) status may apply, but they must partner with a local government entity or another organization with 501(c) (3) status that will serve as a fiscal agent and/or play a clear leadership role for the project/proposal.
For more information, visit Hudson River Foundation.
