May 28: U.S. EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office invited 270 finalists to submit applications for a total of $161,450,000 in competitive grant funding under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). In response to its November 2009 request for grant proposals (RFP), EPA received more than 1,000 proposed projects from state, tribal, and municipal agencies, non-governmental organizations and other eligible entities aimed at restoring and protecting this national treasure. GLRI grants will fund projects that address the most important Great Lakes priorities, including reducing toxic contaminants, restoring the Great Lakes Areas of Concern, protecting beaches and beachgoers, keeping out invasive species and reducing polluted land-based runoff.
Finalists may submit final applications immediately so that grants may be issued and work can begin this summer. Successful projects will focus on achieving results in the five priority areas identified by a Federal interagency task force as vital for restoring the Great Lakes. Each preliminary proposal was subjected to a rigorous review and ranking by multiple reviewers from EPA or other federal agencies. In February 2009, President Obama proposed $475 million for the GLRI and Congress appropriated full funding in October. Grants are expected to be awarded later this summer. Michigan had 99 projects approved for final applications.
Access a release and link to a list of projects by states and by program areas and additional information on the finalists and the RFP (click here).
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