Coastal Services Center

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State Project Selection

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Note: An additional application requirement and a new selection criterion have been added to the state selection process. States must now address how the proposed project would address one or more of the specified thematic areas listed below. These thematic areas will be revised slightly each year to reflect current Center priorities.

Eligibility

All mainland states and Caribbean jurisdictions with federally approved coastal zone management programs, and states developing such programs for approval, may submit a project proposal to the NOAA Coastal Services Center to compete for selection as a fellowship host state. Multiple state agencies or organizations with partnered implementation of the state's coastal management program are also eligible. States that currently host a first-year fellow are not eligible to apply for a second fellow. Six project proposals are typically selected each year.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a six-to-eight-page proposal that addresses the following:

1. Background and Introduction – Define the problem and the need for the project.
2. Goals and Objectives – Provide project goals and quantifiable objectives.
3. Milestones and Outcomes – Highlight specific target milestones, timelines, and products or services to be completed within the two years of the fellowship.
4. Project Description – Detail the specifics of the project (no more than three pages).
5. Fellow Mentoring – Discuss how the host agency will incorporate the fellow into staff activities and encourage the fellow's professional development. Discuss how the mentor will provide day-to-day supervision and on-the-job education to the fellow. The mentor should be identified by name in the proposal.
6. Project Partners – Provide a summary of existing state and local efforts and how the project will integrate these efforts.
7. Cost Share Description – Discuss how the state agency will provide in-kind support (office equipment, supplies, specialized software and hardware needed for the project, and training) and the $15,000 nonfederal fellowship match.
8. Thematic Area – Discuss how the proposed project addresses one or more of the following thematic areas: Thematic areas TBD

Follow this link to see examples of state proposals that were selected in 2009:
csc.noaa.gov/cms/fellows/stateprojects.html.

Selection Criteria

State projects will be selected using the following criteria:

1. Project Value – Identify how the project will add value to the state's program.
2. Project Design – Identify goals and deliverables.
3. Value to Fellow – Describe how the state will contribute to the fellow's professional development and educational experience.
4. State commitment to the project – Identify needed resources, describe how the resources will be provided, and describe how the mentor will support the fellow.
5. Thematic Link – Identify how the project addresses one or more of the thematic areas listed in the application requirements section above.

Project Selection

Six projects will be selected from the proposals submitted to the NOAA Coastal Services Center by a selection panel made up of program partners including National Sea Grant, the NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, and a current fellow and mentor. In addition to the review criteria, certain program policy factors may be considered when selecting projects. An attempt will be made to disperse the selected projects geographically, and technical experts may be brought in to evaluate the technical content of the proposals. The selection panel will make its recommendation to the branch chief of Coastal Management Services at the NOAA Coastal Services Center, who will make the final decision.

Cost Share

All states selected to host a fellow will be required to provide $15,000 in nonfederal funds to cover a portion of the fellow's salary ($7,500 for each year of the fellowship). This money cannot be in-kind support and cannot come from federal dollars. The $15,000 cost sharing must be defined and must be a nonfederal source; if the source of this funding is not defined, the proposal will not be considered.

Placement of Fellows

A workshop to match states with fellows will take place in Charleston, South Carolina, in late April/early May. Of the finalists selected, six will be placed with a host state. Each of the selected host states will send the fellow mentor to the placement workshop. The workshop includes an orientation program, host-state project proposal presentations, finalist presentations, finalist and host state interviews, and fellow matching. If a state does not find a suitable candidate during the workshop, it will be given the option to defer fellow placement for one year. States will only be allowed one deferment before they have to reapply. No contact between prospective hosts and finalists should be made before the placement workshop.

How to Apply

One signed original must be received through the mail, e-mail, or fax on the specified date (see timeline for the 20010–2012 program). Electronic copies can be sent to csc.fellowships@noaa.gov.

Mail proposals to:

Fellowship Coordinator
NOAA Coastal Services Center
2234 South Hobson Avenue
Charleston, SC 29405
Tel: (843) 740-1273
E-mail: csc.fellowships@noaa.gov

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