COASTAL PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE,

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, FY 07-08

The Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP), of the Department of Environmental Protection, announces the availability of funds for innovative coastal projects under its Coastal Partnership Initiative for fiscal year 2007-2008. Eligible applicants include local governments within the 35 coastal counties, national estuarine research reserves (NERR), and national estuary programs (NEP). Eligible applicants also include public and private colleges, universities, regional planning councils and nonprofit groups, as long as an eligible local government, NERR, or NEP agrees to participate as a partner in the application and project. Applications must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. (EDT), October 24, 2006. Selected proposals will be included in the FCMP application to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for fiscal year 07-08 which begins July 1, 2007 and ends June 30, 2008.

The purpose of the COASTAL PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE is to inspire community action and promote the protection and effective management of Florida’s coastal resources in four specific categories: Working Waterfronts, Access to Coastal Resources, Remarkable Coastal Places, and Community Stewardship. These categories are described in Rules 62S-4.004-.005, and subsection 62S-4.007(2), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), along with other information about the COASTAL PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE grant program, including the required information to be included in the application; the format in which it is to be submitted; application submittal procedures; and the criteria and procedures by which applications will be evaluated and ranked. There is no specific application form.

A copy of Chapter 62S-4, F.A.C., may be printed from the FCMP website at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/cmp/grants/ index.htm. Important details regarding the COASTAL PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE grant process:

·      Financial assistance is available as reimbursement grants ranging from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $50,000.

·      Recipients are required to provide 100 percent (one-to-one) matching contributions in the form of goods and services that directly benefit the specific grant project.

·      There are additional requirements for applications involving construction, exotic species removal, vegetative restoration, and land acquisition, including:

·  The application package must include a completed and signed 306A checklist form, which may be obtained at htp://www.dep. state.fl.us/cmp/grants/files/306a.doc. Applicants proposing a construction activity must conduct preliminary consultation with appropriate local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. A summary of the consultation must be included in the COASTAL PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE application or it will be considered incomplete and will not be processed.

·  Construction activities occurring in designated Coastal Barrier Resource Act units are subject to additional review and approval by NOAA and/or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

        ·  Nonprofit organizations are not eligible to receive FCMP funds for these types of activities.

For questions or to request a copy of Chapter 62S-4, F.A.C., or the 306A Checklist, please contact Ms. Dornecia Allen, FCMP, MS 47, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000, by telephone (850)245-2161, or by email to Domecia.Allen@dep.state.fl.us.