Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Southeast New England Program, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, focuses on protecting the region’s ecosystems.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 1 is accepting applications for grants to fund climate resilient infrastructure that promotes nature-based solutions, habitat restoration, and restoration of ecosystems degraded by poor stormwater and development practices.
Projects may involve both planning and/or implementation, though planning must have a commitment to an implementation outcome.
Region 1 is seeking to fund up to six projects, with $2.3 million in total funding anticipated. Grants can range from $400,000 to $600,000 and may last up to five years, with no matching funds required.
The goal is to support projects that work toward the Southeast New England Program Strategic Plan goals of healthy waters, thriving habitats, and resilient communities.
The strategic plan lays out the three broad goals — a resilient ecosystem of safe and healthy waters, thriving watersheds and natural lands, and sustainable communities — and suggests five priority actions: increasing local capacity; increasing available restoration/protection solutions; ensuring diverse representation; demonstrating ways to address common challenges; and increasing local buy-in by working with community leaders.
Grants can be used to address any of the three goals using any of the five priority actions. Proposals must address at least one of the following topics: stormwater infrastructure and roadway runoff, salt marshes, riparian areas, floodplain and inland wetlands, habitat connectivity and aquatic organism passage, urban area resilience and habitat restoration, monitoring of implemented projects, and municipal and tribal planning.
The EPA especially seeks projects that provide multiple benefits (e.g., public access to habitat restoration sites, habitat restoration in protected floodplain areas, stormwater improvements that address flooding and improve water quality/restore habitat).
The SNEP grants are available to state, local, and tribal governments; institutions of higher education; nonprofit institutions and organizations; and interstate agencies. Private businesses, federal agencies, and individuals are not eligible to apply, but may work in partnership with eligible applicants on these projects.
Details about grant application requirements and topic areas are available online. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by June 30.