The Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership offers financial support to organizations whose work implements the PREP Management Plan. There are several ways organizations can receive funding from the PREP:
- Annual Grants Program
- Periodic Requests For Proposals (link)
- Grants from Partnering Organizations
Local Grants Program
The annual Local Grants Program is open to organizations conducting projects in New Hampshire's
coastal watershed that help achieve the PREP's Management Plan goals. Projects must relate to at least one Action Item from the PREP's
Management Plan. Eligible activity areas include water quality, land use and habitat protection, shellfish resources, habitat restoration, and public outreach.
A 1:1 non-federal match ratio is required to be eligible for PREP grant funds. Match can be cash or in-kind services, such as volunteer time. Organizations are allowed to submit one proposal. Eligible applicants include municipalities, community groups, schools, land trusts, watershed associations, environmental groups, regional planning commissions, and other organizations that conduct conservation work in the coastal watershed. Projects are selected through a competitive application process.
A Request For Proposals is issued each fall. It can be obtained via the PREP website (under Request for Proposals), or by contacting the PREP Project Coordinator at 862-3403 or by email.
Grants from Partnering Organizations
The PREP funds activities and projects administered by organizations, who in turn fund project implementation.
Natural Resources Outreach Coalition (NROC): The PREP funds and participates in NROC, a group of professionals who collaborate to offer educational and technical natural resource-based planning assistance to communities in the coastal watershed. NROC team members support communities facing growth by helping them understand the current status of their natural resources, the potential impacts of growth on those resources, and techniques for protecting economic health, community character and environmental quality. Some funds may be available for communities to implement natural resource planning and conservation actions identified through this process. For more information contact Amanda Stone, NROC Coordinator, at 364-5324 or by email.
Center for Land Conservation Assistance (CLCA): The CLCA, hosted by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, is a not-for-profit organization that assists with land protection planning. Through the Coastal Watershed Land Protection Transaction Assistance Fund, which is funded by the PREP, CLCA offers grants to eligible entities, including nonprofit conservation organizations and units of government, for land protection transaction costs. Eligible expenses include survey and appraisal costs, attorneys' fees, consultants' fees, and other related expenses. For more information contact Dorothy Tripp Taylor, CLCA Director, at 717-7045 or by email.
NH DES Watershed Assistance Section: Through a grant program administered by NH DES, the PREP provides funds to coastal watershed communities for storm sewer mapping and illicit discharge elimination. NH DES issues an annual Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals from communities, typically each spring. Communities can apply for grants to produce electronic maps of storm sewer systems and to identify and eliminate illicit connections or discharges to storm sewer systems (i.e., inappropriate discharges such as sewage discharges, laundry discharges, and floor drain connections to municipal storm sewer systems). For more information about the RFP and eligible projects, contact Jeff Marcoux, NH DES, at 603-271-8862 or by email.