The Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. is inviting proposals for the Waters for Georgia Program.
Through this funding program, the Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. seeks to
invest in water quality improvement projects that result in measurable benefits
to environments and communities across the state of Georgia.
To ensure that funding is directed where it is most needed,
proposed projects must be focused on waters of Georgia that are currently
listed as impaired under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. Further,
successful projects should focus on reducing the source(s) of impairment and
include actions that will contribute to the de-listing or down-listing the
impaired waters. Additional consideration will be given to projects benefitting
majority Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and underserved
communities.
Priorities
Priority will be given to projects that have the
following attributes:
- Have the potential to impact
the long-term ecological health of the water body and larger watershed;
- Contribute to an existing
watershed, water quality improvement, or conservation plan or initiative
(including National, regional, State, or local scales);
- Contribute to species
conservation in biologically impaired streams, particularly those
involving rare, threatened and endangered (RTE) species;
- Can be monitoring by an
existing or proposed monitoring plan;
- Provide clear social
co-benefit(s) - especially in -BIPOC or underserved communities;
- Leverage cost-sharing and/or
matching funds through private donors, corporate partners, and/or state
319(h) grants or other government funding to maximize overall project
value;
- Have current unmet funding
needs of at least $25,000; or GPF will consider unmet/gap funding
proposals of less than $25,000 for projects that promise exceptional water
stewardship benefits to the community
- Will be implemented and begin
delivering benefits by December 31, 2023
Funding Information
- The Foundation will grant
awards of $25,000 and up, with a total anticipated investment of $1
million for projects that will be implemented and begin delivering
benefits by December 31, 2023.
- The Foundation will consider
smaller investments for projects that promise exceptional water
stewardship benefits to the community.
Outcomes
- The Georgia Power Foundation,
Inc. supports a wide range of project types that address the sources or
causes of water quality impairments and support multiple benefits for
communities and aquatic ecosystems.
- All projects must have a clear
link to watershed and ecosystem health.
- Projects that also include
objectives related to improving community well-being, water supply
sustainability and/or resiliency for sustainable uses such as agriculture,
municipal drinking water, industry, recreation, etc. are strongly
encouraged.
- Examples of project types
include (but are not limited to):
- Implementation of agricultural
Best Management Practices (BMPs) linked to improved water quality (e.g.,
stream fencing, off-channel livestock watering, sediment control, etc.)
- Physical enhancement of aquatic
or riparian habitat (e.g., buffer revegetation/restoration, stream
channel reconstruction, instream habitat structure, improved
stream/aquatic passage, barrier removal etc.)
- Improving or addressing water
conservation (e.g., irrigation efficiency, groundwater recharge,
reconnecting floodplains, etc.)
- Green infrastructure:
stormwater runoff management to the extent that stormwater influences
impairment criteria
- Others (e.g., all project
types which directly address and enhance water quality and aquatic habitats
and meet all other program criteria will be considered for funding)
Eligibility Criteria
- The Foundation will consider
proposals from governmental agencies or organizations that have an active
501(c)3 tax designation and described in Section 509 of the Internal
Revenue Code except for any organization described in Code Section
509(a)(3)(B)(iii) that is not “functionally integrated” with its supported
organization.
- Georgia Power Foundation does
not provide grants:
- To individuals, private
elementary or secondary schools and religious organizations, nor do they
fund political campaigns or causes.
- To organizations whose
policies or actions discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or
disability.
- For projects designed to
mitigate legal or regulatory compliance obligations or tied to ongoing
legal or regulatory action.
Post Date - 11-Jun-2021