The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) is seeking proposals to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound (Sound) with approximately $10 million for grants in 2023.
Donor Name: Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF)
States: Selected Sates
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/10/2023
Size of the Grant: $50,000 to $1.5 million
Grant Duration: 24 months
Details:
The program is managed by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS). Major funding is from EPA through the LISS with additional funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Avangrid Foundation.
Priorities
CCMP THEME: Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds
Improve water quality by reducing nitrogen pollution, combined sewer overflows, impervious cover, stormwater runoff, and point and nonpoint source loading into Long Island Sound through:
- Implementation of “shovel-ready” projects that result in quantifiable pollutant prevention. The most competitive projects will be those that address water quality at larger or more comprehensive-scale such as at the level of a neighborhood, waterfront or downtown. Proposals will be asked to describe plans for long-term maintenance.
- Planning activities that set-the-stage for implementation of water quality projects including: community engagement, planning and prioritization; feasibility, suitability or alternatives analyses; site assessment and conceptual design; and final design and permits.
CCMP THEME: Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife
Restore coastal habitats to maintain resilience and function and to support populations of fish, birds and wildlife by:
- Implementing “shovel-ready” projects that result in quantifiable habitat acres restored. Proposals will be asked to describe plans for long-term maintenance.
- Planning that sets-the-stage for implementation of habitat restoration projects including: 1) community engagement, planning and prioritization; 2) feasibility, suitability or alternatives analyses; 3) site assessment and conceptual design; and 4) final design and permits.
- Fostering diverse, balanced and abundant populations of fish, birds and wildlife.
CCMP THEME: Sustainable and Resilient Communities
This CCMP theme has two major categories of fundable activities. Projects that 1) sustain the ecological balance of the Sound in a healthy, productive, and resilient state for the benefit of people, wildlife and the natural environment; and 2) support vibrant, informed, and engaged communities that use, appreciate, and help protect and sustain the Sound.
Funding Information
With funding of approximately $10 million for projects in 2023, there are four funding categories under the LISFF each with a different range of grant funding.
- Implementation Projects: $50,000 to $1.5 million for projects with particularly high environmental community benefit relative to cost, including:
- Water quality, habitat restoration, and resilience projects.
- Projects with the greatest promise to demonstrate, influence, pilot, innovate, and/or provide a proof of concept with the aim of accelerating local and regional water quality improvements, natural resource restoration, coastal resilience, Environmental Justice and/or community and public outreach and engagement.
- Design/Planning Projects: $50,000 to $500,000 for:
- Water quality or habitat restoration projects.
- Watershed plans.
- Community resilience/sustainability/natural hazard mitigation plans.
- Education and Public Participation Grants: $50,000 to $250,000.
Project Period
Projects must start within six months and be completed within 24 months after notification of grant award. Larger-scale complex implementation or partnership development projects must start within six months and be completed within thirty-six months after notification of grant award. Notification of award is projected to be November 2023.
Geographic Focus
All proposed projects must be within the Long Island Sound watershed boundary.
Please review the interactive Long Island Sound Watershed Map for boundaries referenced below.
- Habitat restoration projects must fall within the Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed boundary in Connecticut (CT) and New York (NY).
- Resilience, water quality and fish passage projects may be in any portion of the Long Island Sound Study Area in CT and NY.
- Education and outreach projects may be in any portion of the Long Island Sound Study Area in CT and NY. Projects may also occur in communities outside this boundary in those states as long as content concerns the health and living resources of the Sound.
- Nitrogen/nutrient prevention projects may occur anywhere in the Sound watershed of CT, NY, Massachusetts (MA), New Hampshire (NH), and Vermont (VT).
Eligible and Ineligible Entities
- Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local government, municipal government, Tribal Governments and Organizations, and educational institutions.
- Ineligible applicants include U.S. Federal government agencies, businesses, and unincorporated individuals.
For more information, visit Long Island Sound Futures Fund.
