The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Coastal Program announces the availability of targeted funds for projects that enhance coastal resilience to current and future hazards. Each year, coastal communities in New Hampshire experience flooding and coastal storm damages to property, infrastructure, natural resources, and cultural resources, along with associated economic disruptions. The past year brought damaging nor’easters and more frequent reports of nuisance high tide flooding. These hazards are projected to continue intensifying and expanding with the effects of climate change.
The purpose of the 2018 New Hampshire Coastal Resilience Grants funding opportunity is to support projects that improve the capacity of a community or system to proactively prepare for and “bounce back better” from hazardous events such as hurricanes, coastal storms, and long-term sea-level rise and associated impacts. There are two types of eligible projects: Creative Capacity Building and Design & Construction.
Proposed work must take place in one or more of the 17 New Hampshire coastal zone communities. Eligible applicants include municipalities, state agencies, regional planning commissions, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
A total funding amount of approximately $200,000 is available. Applicants must request a minimum of $20,000 and no more than $100,000 in grant funds per project. A two-to-one federal to non-federal match through cash or in-kind services is required (i.e., if $20,000 in grant funds are requested the applicant must provide at least $10,000 in non-federal cash or in-kind match). Exceptions to the match requirement may be made for Creative Capacity Building project applicants who can demonstrate hardship securing match. The funds are made available to the NHDES Coastal Program through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management, under the Coastal Zone Management Act.
Proposals must be submitted electronically by emailing kirsten.howard@des.nh.gov by 4:00 pm EDT on Friday, July 6, 2018.
The highest scoring applicants will be asked to refine scopes of services and budgets for contracting.
For more information on eligibility, project types, and submittal requirements, view the full request for proposals at: https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/coastal/documents/2018-coast-res-rfp.pdf.
For further assistance, please contact NHDES Coastal Program Resilience Coordinator Kirsten Howard at (603) 559-0020 or kirsten.howard@des.nh.gov.