The Michigan Coastal Management Program (MCMP) in the Water Resources Division of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) provides grant funds through the Michigan Coastal Management Program (MCMP) to assist in the development of vibrant and resilient coastal communities through the protection and restoration of the sensitive coastal resources and biologically diverse ecosystems.
Donor Name: Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)
State: Michigan
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/20/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The WRD seeks projects that protect community character and revitalize ports and harbors; plan for growth and change in our coastal communities to strengthen economies and minimize risk from coastal hazards; protect and restore healthy coastal ecosystems for public use and enjoyment; devise solutions for the nature-based solutions to slow the flow of storm water; and create and enhance public access.
The MCMP prioritizes projects that promote resilience planning, local policies, and actions to mitigate negative impacts of coastal hazards through outreach, enhanced community engagement, host the MCMP’s Coastal Leadership Academy technical training workshops, evaluate regional climate change and coastal issues with recommendations to improve coastal community resilience through delivery of technical assistance and developed tools.
MCMP Focus Areas
- Coastal Water Dependent Uses and Community Development
- The MCMP is committed to plan and manage future growth and development on lands adjacent to the coast, while protecting coastal natural resources, maritime heritage resources, water-dependent livelihoods, outdoor recreation, and other assets and activities that contribute to the community’s sense of place.
- Coastal Hazards
- The MCMP is committed to increase coastal communities’ understanding of the risks associated with living on the coast from coastal erosion, flooding, storm water, and urban heat to build upon the ability to absorb, respond, and adapt to impacts from coastal storms and Great Lakes water level variabilities (e.g., the highs and the lows).
- Coastal Habitat
- The MCMP is committed to protecting, preserving, and restoring healthy coastal wetlands, beaches, and dunes. As the first defense against storm surges (e.g., reducing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion), natural infrastructure is critical for coastal communities’ resilience as well as maintaining beneficial ecological plant and animal communities.
- Coastal Waters
- The MCMP is committed to the protection and management of coastal waters. Planning and installing nature-based solutions (e.g., vegetated buffers, raingardens, and living shorelines) that benefit ecosystem services (e.g., recreation and habitat biodiversity) is the preferred approach for managing and slowing the flow of storm water and flooding in coastal areas.
- Public Access
- The MCMP is committed to the creation and enhancement of public access to the Great Lakes using approaches that support coastal communities, foster appreciation of natural, cultural, and historic resources for a holistic approach for preserving Great Lakes public trust bottomlands.
Project Types
- Planning Projects
- Planning projects may include a variety of proposed actions that meet the needs of coastal communities and typically result in the development of a Master Plan, conservation, or recreational plan, or plans that prioritize water-dependent uses of coastal areas and expand upon the related coastal values and characteristics. Planning projects can also focus on capacity building, improved outreach and communication, and community engagement to achieve collaborative plans and strategies. Projects that conduct natural resource inventories, conduct sampling, or deploy drones are also considered planning projects.
- Feasibility, Engineering, and Design
- Feasibility, engineering, and design projects include site-specific investigations such as feasibility studies, creation of conceptual designs, and/or final engineering plans that lead to a low-cost construction, habitat restoration, or other on-the-ground implementation work. These types of projects may include outdoor activities such as in-field site inventories, topographic survey, geotechnical analysis, soil sampling, or sediment characterization. All funded grants must adhere to local, state, and federal permit conditions for proposed actions and are restricted within the MCMP coastal boundary.
- Low-cost Construction
- Low-cost construction projects are those that physically alter publicly owned property for site-specific enhanced public access, habitat restoration, installation of bioengineering and green infrastructure practices, and installation of signage. These projects must use low-impact development techniques and meet the federal ‘Buy American’ provision for purchase of materials, if applicable. All funded grants must adhere to local, state, and federal permit conditions for proposed implementation actions.
- Land Conservation through Acquisition
- Under federal guidelines, only units of government or public entities are eligible for funding for land acquisitions. All proposed purchases must demonstrate a significant ecological value, need for protection, and be managed and protected in perpetuity by the local jurisdiction purchasing the property. Projects submitted under this project type must involve acquisition of land from willing sellers of fee-simple or other public interest in the parcel. Projects may include land acquisition, purchase of easements, and purchase of development rights. All projects must provide passive public access or provide other public benefit.
Funding Information
The WRD anticipate approximately $1,000,000.00 to be available in grant funds through this opportunity.
- Planning grants can be no less than $10,000 and no greater than $100,000.
- Feasibility, design, and engineering grants can be no less than $10,000 and no greater than $150,000.
- Low-cost construction grants can be no less than $10,000 and no greater than $250,000.
- Land conservation through acquisition grants can be no greater than $500,000.
Grant Period
Anticipated grant agreement may be as early as October 1, 2025, with a project period of 12 months generally for Planning projects and no longer than 15 months for Feasibility, Engineering, and Design, Low-cost Construction and Land Acquisition projects.
Who may apply?
Eligible applicants include local units of government, cities, counties, villages, and townships; regional planning agencies; educational institutions; state government agencies; Tribal Governments; and not-for-profit 501(c) organizations.
For more information, visit EGLE.
