The Chesapeake Bay Restoration Advisory Committee is accepting grant applications to conduct Chesapeake Bay-related education and restoration activities. The grants are funded with monies from the sale of the of the special Chesapeake Bay “Friend of the Chesapeake” license plate. This year, $310,882 in grant monies will be awarded to eligible applicants. During this past year, 49 grantees received $247,839 in grant funds. Since 1996, over $7.7 million has been awarded as a result of the sale of the “Bay Plate.”
The deadline for submitting a proposal for 2018 support grants is October 1, 2017. Grant funds will be awarded in May-June 2018. To be eligible to receive a grant, applicants must submit proposals emphasizing environmental education or restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay. Projects focusing on environmental education should increase public awareness and knowledge about the Bay, and projects of a restoration and conservation nature should be action oriented. Grants are awarded for one year, except in special circumstances. Grant funds may not be used to supplant existing state or local general fund appropriations.
Applications will be accepted from private not-for-profit conservation organizations, schools and universities, and governmental agencies whose projects will affect water bodies that are located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. There is no limit on the funding amount that an applicant may request. More information on the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, including the application, W-9 and EDI forms, grant guidelines, and a catalogue of past projects can be found at http://dls.virginia.gov/commissions/cbr.htm.
General Assembly members of the Advisory Committee are Senator DeSteph of Virginia Beach, Delegate Hodges of Urbanna, and Delegate Ransone of Kinsale. Citizen members include Terra Pascarossa Duff of Virginia Beach, John W. Peterson of Burke, Claiborne B. Roberts of Sandston, and Daniel G. Van Clief, III of Charlottesville.
VACo Contact: Larry Land, CAE