The Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) requests proposals from municipalities and partnering organizations within the Piscataqua Region watershed for projects resulting in achievement or significant progress toward achievement of one or more of the proposed actions for their community identified in the 2020 Piscataqua Region Environmental Planning Assessment (PREPA) or an action related to climate vulnerability, adaptation, and/or preparedness. Visit https://prepestuaries.org/resources/prepa/ to review results by municipality from the 2020 assessment.
Eligible applicants may submit a proposal for up to $10,000 of PREP funds. A total of $45,000 is available for projects for 2021-2022. For all projects, a minimum of 15% must be budgeted for outreach and education.
Eligibility: Individual municipalities, and organizations partnering with one or more municipalities in the Piscataqua Region watershed.
Example projects and average costs are listed below. If you’d like to discuss a project idea, please contact Abigail Lyon (Abigail.Lyon@unh.edu or (603) 862-3729).
- Adopt or increase buffers or setbacks regulations for wetlands, streams, buildings, or septic: $5,000-$15,000
- Complete a Natural Resource Inventory or Assessment: $10,000
- Adopt updated stormwater management regulations: $10,000-$20,000
- Adopt updated model floodplain management standards that exceed the minimum federal regulations required to participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NH Office of Strategic Initiatives Menu of Higher Floodplain Regulation Standards or Maine Floodplain Management Program): $10,000
- Use the 2019-2020 NH Coastal Flood Risk Summary – Part II: Guidance for Using Scientific Projections to update land use regulations to require project siting and design based on climate projections: $5,000-$10,000
- Adopt a Coastal Hazards Master Plan Chapter: $5,000-$10,000
- Maine Flood Resilience Checklist: $5,000-$10,000
Request for Proposal Timeline:
February 1, 2021: Request for Proposals released by PREP.
February 1-March 30, 2021: Municipal officials (typically the Planning Board and/or Conservation Commission) meet with consultant(s) to discuss project in February and March meetings to determine which project the municipality wants to pursue. Fill out application, review, and sign off on grant requirement documents (8.5 weeks).
March 31, 2021: Proposal Deadline - submit project application to PREP by 4 PM.
April 1-April 22, 2021: Proposal review and selection process (3 weeks).
April 26, 2021: Awards announced.
May 1, 2021: Projects begin.
General Project Timeline:
May 1, 2021-April 30, 2022: Meet with consultants, presentations, public meetings, and adopt ordinance or regulations or complete assessment or inventory.
April 30, 2022: Project complete (drafted ordinance or regulation update, outreach to residents to gain support, public hearings, and adopted into town ordinances, where appropriate). Begin reporting.
June 1, 2022 Project final reporting complete.
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
Download a copy of the application (PDF, Word Document)
- Proposal summary form—Contains succinct information about the proposed project. PREP template must be used (Appendix A).
- Project budget form—Applicants must submit a Project Budget Form (Appendix B). Identify your qualified consultant for this project.
- Match commitment letter(s)— A separate letter of match commitment is required for this proposed project. (Appendix C). A minimum of 1:2 match (50%) is required for projects funded through this program. Match contributions may be from in-kind support or non-federal cash.
An electronic copy (PDF) must be received by Abigail Lyon via email (Abigail.Lyon@unh.edu) no later than 4 PM on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Faxed proposals will not be accepted.
Direct questions to Abigail Lyon, PREP Community Technical Assistance Program Manager, at (603) 862-3729 or Abigail.Lyon@unh.edu