Other Funding Opportunities
The California Energy Commission has announced the availability of funds for low-interest loans for energy efficiency and energy generation projects. Low interest rates of 3 percent can help local jurisdictions invest in energy efficiency, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create new jobs and industries for your community. http://www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency/financing/index.html
The California Fisheries Fund offers three types of loans: fishing association loans, infrastructure loans, and business loans. http://www.californiafisheriesfund.org/loan.html
The California Energy Commission has announced the availability of funds for low-interest loans for energy efficiency and energy generation projects. Low interest rates of 3 percent can help local jurisdictions invest in energy efficiency, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create new jobs and industries for your community. http://www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency/financing/index.html
The California Sea Grant College Program is now soliciting preliminary proposals for projects to begin February 1, 2013. Faculty and academic staff from universities and scientists from research institutions throughout California are invited to apply. Applications are due by 11:59 pm, March 15. www.csgc.ucsd.edu/FUNDING/APPLYING/PRELIMINARY/IndxPrelim.html
The California Wildlife Conservation Board continues to provide funding for wetland, riparian, oak woodland, and other fish and wildlife habitat improvement projects and land acquisition from Propositions 40, 50, and 117. The WCB’s Riparian, Inland Wetlands, and Oak Woodlands programs continue and are continuously open for proposal submission. http://www.sfbayjv.org/
The Department of Conservation, Strategic Growth Council Request for Proposals: Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentive Program to support development, adoption, and implementation of Sustainable Community planning elements throughout the State, including, but not limited to, Climate Action Plans and General Plan amendments. All applicants submitting proposals for funding through this grant must submit a complete electronic application using the FAAST system by February 15, 2012. http://sgc.ca.gov/planning_grants.html
DWR has posted the draft version of the Local Groundwater Assistance (LGA) Grant Program Guidelines and PSP for public review and comment. A workshop is scheduled on January February 23, 2012 in Sacramento to solicit comments. The public comment period closes on March 1, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. http://www.water.ca.gov/lgagrant/
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will release the 2012 Proposal Solicitation Notice (PSN) for the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program on Feb. 15, 2012. Applications will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Feb. 15, 2012 through 3 p.m. March 30, 2012. The 2012 PSN will be posted at www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Administration/Grants/FRGP/Solicitation.asp on Feb. 15. Applications can also be submitted online at https://nrmsecure.dfg.ca.gov/frgpproposal/Default.aspx as of Feb. 15.
The REAP/EA/REDA Grant Program will provide grants for energy audits and renewable energy development assistance. Applications accepted on a continuous basis. http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapEaReda.html
The State Water Board executed a contract with California Rural Water Association (CRWA) to provide up to $500,000 in wastewater-related technical assistance to small, disadvantaged communities (SDACs) statewide. If you have questions regarding this contract, or if you are working with a SDAC that could benefit from this type of assistance, please contact either Ms. Meghan Brown at (916) 341-5729 or mgbrown@waterboards.ca.gov, or Ms. Diana Conkle at (916) 341-5660 or dconkle@waterboards.ca.gov
The SWRCB Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program is currently accepting applications. The CWSRF Loan Program provides low-interest loan funding for construction of publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities, local sewers, sewer interceptors, water recycling facilities, as well as, expanded use projects such as implementation of nonpoint source (NPS) projects or programs, development and implementation of estuary Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans, and storm water treatment. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/srf/index.shtml
The SWRCB Agricultural Drainage Loan Program and Agricultural Drainage Management Loan Program are currently accepting applications. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/agdrain/agdrain_loan.shtml
The SWRCB Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program is currently accepting applications. The CWSRF Loan Program provides low-interest loan funding for construction of publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities, local sewers, sewer interceptors, water recycling facilities, as well as, expanded use projects such as implementation of nonpoint source (NPS) projects or programs, development and implementation of estuary Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans, and storm water treatment. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/srf/index.shtml
The USDA Rural Development Electric Program provides direct loans and loan guarantees to upgrade, expand, maintain, and replace America's vast rural electric infrastructure including the construction of electric distribution, transmission and generation facilities, and on- and off-grid renewable energy systems. Applications accepted on a continuous basis. http://www.usda.gov/rus/electric/index.htm
The USDA provides loans and grants to develop water and waste disposal systems in rural areas and towns with a population not in excess of 10,000. The funds are available to public bodies, non-profit corporations and Indian tribes. Applications are accepted at any time through the Rural Development State and Area Offices. http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-dispdirectloansgrants.htm. To locate an office near you go to http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html
USDA announced that it would provide funding to stabilize and reduce energy costs for residents in remote rural areas where the current costs of producing electricity is high. The funds are being provided through USDA's High Energy Cost Grant program and much of the money will go to construct renewable energy projects. Grants are available to individuals, businesses, non-profit entities, states, local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes. http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_Grants.html
USDA Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants to assist rural communities that have experienced a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water due to an emergency, or in which such decline is considered imminent, to obtain or maintain adequate quantities of water that meets the standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act. This emergency is considered an occurrence of an incident such as, but not limited to, a drought, earthquake, flood, tornado, hurricane, disease outbreak or chemical spill, leakage or seepage. http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-ecwag.htm
USDA NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. o projects that maximize wildlife values. Application due February 10, 2012. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/?ss=16&navtype=SUBNAVIGATION&cid=nrcs143_008419&navid=100130130000000&pnavid=100000000000000&position=Welcome.Html&ttype=detail&pname=Wetlands%20Reserve%20Program%20|%20NRCS
USDI Bureau of Reclamation has released a funding announcement for Water SMART: Cooperative Watershed Management Program Grants for FY 2012. The objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to invite States, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, local governmental entities, local and special districts (e.g., irrigation and water districts, county soil conservation districts, etc.), local governmental entities, non-profit organizations, and, existing watershed groups, as defined in Section 6001 of the Cooperative Watershed Management Act (Subtitle A of Title IX of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, P.L. 111-11) to submit proposals to establish or expand a watershed group. Funding under this FOA shall be used to develop a mission statement; develop project concepts; and to develop a restoration plan. Applications are due February 27, 2012. http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/cwmp/docs/draft-FOA-Oct-2011.pdf
The U.S. Standard Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (Act). These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds. Application due March 2, 2012. http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/Standard/US/index.shtm
The U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory is seeking applications aimed at empowering consumers to better manage their electricity use by enabling access to electricity consumption data by customers and their authorized third parties, and providing or supporting the use of third-party tools and software products that use the available data to deliver a value-added service to the customer. Projects under this Funding Opportunity Announcement will be composed of two phases. Under Phase I, applicants will need to demonstrate the capability for electricity customers and or designated third parties to access their usage data and the functionality of their proposed tool or software product to provide this access. Phase II involves adoption of the tools and software products demonstrated in Phase I to an entire service territory, region, or community within the jurisdiction of the applicant or the utility partner of the applicant. Applications due 3/1/12. http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=130273
The U.S. Forest Service requests proposals for wood energy projects that require engineering services. These projects will use woody biomass, such as material removed from forest restoration activities, wildfire hazardous fuel treatments, insect and disease mitigation, and/or forest management due to catastrophic weather events. The woody biomass shall be used in a bioenergy facility that uses commercially proven technologies to produce thermal, electrical, or liquid/gaseous bioenergy. The funds from grant program must be used to further the planning of such facilities by funding the engineering services necessary for final design and cost analysis. Applications due 3/1/12. http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=1qFvTv4bWP0M1fxLtTbX2QLFvplv1sS7HwHRfp6dXSgvKpyVLxrr!-1890905838?oppId=130235&mode=VIEW
The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) seeks proposals for research to generate the science and engineering to improve and/or evaluate promising innovative technologies and techniques to reduce the cost and improve the effectiveness of operation, maintenance, management, and replacement of aging and failing wastewater and stormwater conveyance and treatment infrastructure. Proposals due by 4 PM EDT, March 6. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9133402.htm
USDA is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to complete a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. http://farmprogress.com/california-farmer/story.aspx?s=56625&c=8
USDA is accepting the following applications:
- renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications until March 30, 2012;
- renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement guaranteed loan only applications on a continuous basis up to June 29, 2012;
- renewable energy system feasibility study applications through March 30, 2012; and
- energy audits and renewable energy development assistance applications through February 21, 2012.
