03-23-2010, 11:14 AM
The DNR Lake Michigan Coastal Program (LMCP) and the Coastal Advisory Board kick off the 2009 Coastal Grants funding cycle with a public input meeting, Wednesday, June 25.
<br>The meeting will be at Valparaiso's Forest Park Golf Course Club House, 1155 Sheffield Dr., at 6:15 p.m.<br>
<br>"The first step of each funding cycle is to gather input from the public, as well as potential applicants, on what they feel funding should be focused on," said Jenny Orsburn, LMCP program specialist. "The Board will then take a vote and determine the priorities."<br>
<br>Applications submitted for funding that meet a priority identified at the meeting will receive additional points in project evaluation and scoring. The Lake Michigan Coastal Grants Program is an annual competitive grants program that awards up to $700,000 to units of local government, regional and state agencies, colleges and universities, as well as to non-profit organizations.<br>
<br>Eligible projects include low-cost construction activities such as habitat restoration and public access improvements; land acquisition; planning and coordination projects, including comprehensive planning; as well as education and outreach projects. Projects must be located entirely within the coastal area, which comprises the northern portion of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.<br>
<br>The LMCP was created to coordinate efforts between local, state and federal governments, as well as local organizations, and to support projects that protect and restore natural, cultural and historical resources in the region.<br>
<br>The LMCP is funded through the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Coastal Resource Management.<br>
<br>Fore more information visit the program's Web site: dnr.IN.gov/lakemich<br>
<br>Media contact: Mike Molnar, LMCP program manager, (317) 233-0132
<br>The meeting will be at Valparaiso's Forest Park Golf Course Club House, 1155 Sheffield Dr., at 6:15 p.m.<br>
<br>"The first step of each funding cycle is to gather input from the public, as well as potential applicants, on what they feel funding should be focused on," said Jenny Orsburn, LMCP program specialist. "The Board will then take a vote and determine the priorities."<br>
<br>Applications submitted for funding that meet a priority identified at the meeting will receive additional points in project evaluation and scoring. The Lake Michigan Coastal Grants Program is an annual competitive grants program that awards up to $700,000 to units of local government, regional and state agencies, colleges and universities, as well as to non-profit organizations.<br>
<br>Eligible projects include low-cost construction activities such as habitat restoration and public access improvements; land acquisition; planning and coordination projects, including comprehensive planning; as well as education and outreach projects. Projects must be located entirely within the coastal area, which comprises the northern portion of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.<br>
<br>The LMCP was created to coordinate efforts between local, state and federal governments, as well as local organizations, and to support projects that protect and restore natural, cultural and historical resources in the region.<br>
<br>The LMCP is funded through the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Coastal Resource Management.<br>
<br>Fore more information visit the program's Web site: dnr.IN.gov/lakemich<br>
<br>Media contact: Mike Molnar, LMCP program manager, (317) 233-0132