Public Invited to Submit Applications
for Over $1 million in Forest Project Money
VANCOUVER, WA
-- The public is invited to submit applications for funds designed to
improve Gifford Pinchot National Forest lands and the rural economies
of local counties. Applications for Title II money under the Secure Rural
Schools and Community Self-Determination (County Payments) Act must be
received by Friday, April 1, 2005.
Title II money funds work such as restoring watersheds, decommissioning
roads, removing noxious weeds, thinning trees, and road and trail maintenance
examples.
The funds are made available by counties, which receive federal funds
based on the percentage of land in federal ownership. Last year, more
than $1.8 million was allocated to 29 proposals. The projects must be
recommended by one of two Forest Resource Advisory Committees and approved
by the Forest Supervisor.
Individuals, non-profit organizations, and local governments are all candidates
to receive funding for Title II projects. The funds for these projects
will available in the fall of 2005. The County Payments program is set
to expire in September 2006, although Congress may extend or make the
program permanent.
Grant application forms are available at the Forest's
web site or from Gifford Pinchot Forest Headquarters, 10600 NE 51st
Circle, Vancouver, Wash. Applicants will find the required project submission
forms in downloadable MS Word and RTF formats. Instructions for filling
out the Title II form are available at the same site.
Applicants for Title II funds are encouraged to submit their forms electronically.
E-mail Title II proposals for the northern half of the Forest to Dave
Olson at dfolson@fs.fed.us (360)
891-5154 or for the southern half of the Forest to Sue Ripp at sripp@fs.fed.us
(360) 891-5153. Proposals also may be mailed to Forest Headquarters in
care of Olson or Ripp.
The public also may apply for Title III funds under the County Payments
Act. Title III funds are allocated by the counties and may only be spent
on six categories of projects: Conservation easements, Forest-related
educational programs, community/urban forestry programs, search and rescue
on Forest land, Forest-related educational opportunities and fire prevention.
For more information or to apply for Title III funds, contact: Cowlitz
County; (360) 577-3020; Lewis County (360) 740-1120; or Skamania County
(509) 427-9447.
Additional information on Title II and Title III projects is available
on the Forest's
web site.
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