SACRAMENTO, Calif.-Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird today announced that applications are currently being accepted for the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP) 2011/12 grant cycle. The program offers grants to local, state and federal government agencies and nonprofit organizations for projects to mitigate environmental impacts caused by new or modified state transportation facilities. Grants generally will be limited to $350,000 per project. The EEMP guidelines, application and more information about evaluation criteria and requirements can be found here. Applications for the 2011/12 grant cycle must be received by the Natural Resources Agency no later than 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, 2011.

Grants are given in four categories:

• Highway Landscape and Urban Forestry -- Projects designed to offset vehicular emissions of carbon dioxide through the planting of trees and other suitable plants.
• Resource Lands -- Projects for the acquisition, restoration, or enhancement of watersheds, wildlife habitat, wetlands, forests, or other significant natural areas within or near the right of way for transportation improvements.
• Roadside Recreation -- Projects for the acquisition and/or development of roadside recreational opportunities.
• NEW! Mitigation Projects Beyond the Scope of the Lead Agency - Projects responsible for assessing the environmental impact of the proposed transportation improvement.

The Natural Resources Agency will submit recommended projects to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for funding consideration in early 2012. It is anticipated that the CTC will give preliminary approval to projects to be funded in spring 2012.

Two technical assistance workshops will be held to help applicants in preparing grant applications. Please RSVP to eemcoordinator@resources.ca.gov to reserve your space.

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011
city of Los Angeles
1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.
California Department of Transportation
Caltrans District 07 Offices,
100 South Main Street, 1st Floor, Room 01.040B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011
city of Sacramento
1:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M.
Sacramento Area Council of Governments
(SACOG) 3rd Floor Board Room
1415 L Street, Suite 300
Sacramento, CA 95814

For more information about EEMP project administration and projects funded in prior cycles click here.

Hardcopies of the application are also available from the Natural Resources Agency, 1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311, Sacramento, CA 95814, or by contacting the EEMP Coordinator at (916) 653-2812 or at eemcoordinator@resources.ca.gov

The US Environmental Protection Agency's State and Local Capacity Building Branch has updated its funding opportunities directory.  It is designed to help identify financial and technical assistance opportunities for efforts that reduce energy costs, improve air quality and public health, and enhance opportunities for economic development.  "Funding Opportunities: A Directory of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Protection Assistance Programs" provides an extensive list of grants available from EPA, other federal agencies, state governments, and private foundations.

The federal government has launched a new web site containing information about finding and applying for all federal grant programs. The web site is a collaborative effort of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor and Transportation, as well as the National Science Foundation.
Grants.gov creates a centralized, online process to find and apply for over 900 grant programs from the 26 Federal agencies. Grants.gov streamlines the process of awarding over $360 billion annually to state and local governments, academia, not-for-profits and other organizations. All Federal agencies are required to post all competitive grant opportunities to the site as of November 7, 2003.
The site provides information in a standardized format across agencies and includes:
A "Find Grant Opportunities" feature to help applicants find potential funding opportunities.
An "Apply for Grants" feature that allows applicants to download, complete and submit applications for specific grant opportunities from any federal grant-making agency.
A “Receive Grants Opportunity Notification” feature that allows you to subscribe to receive announcements of both new grants and modifications of existing grant announcements.