Columbia Basin Trust Wants Your Environmental Project Ideas
By Contributor
Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) is now accepting community-initiated and community-supported project applications for its Environmental Initiatives Program (EIP).
This program has provided nearly $3 million in funding over the past five years for environmental conservation, restoration, stewardship and education projects across the Basin. This year, CBT has increased.
program funding by $100,000 to $450,000 and is looking to residents and groups in the Columbia Basin for innovative projects that will help to maintain or enhance the environmental condition in and around their communities.
CBT is moving forward on implementing recommendations from a 2008 evaluation of the program by streamlining the process to create a single point of contact for all project applicants to ensure proponents are getting the support they need.
“This program has been very successful over the past few years and we want to continue to see the projects it supports making a difference in Basin communities,” said Rick Allen, CBT Environment Program Manager.
“This year we’ve implemented a few enhancements to streamline the program and to make it easier for some of the smaller groups, whether they are hunting and fishing, recreational or environmental education groups, to submit applications.”
Allen joined CBT in March and will be focusing primarily on the EIP, in addition to implementing CBT’s Environmental Strategic Plan which was released in February.
“We want to help residents become involved in environmental projects that they have identified as important to their community. We also want to help connect them with other groups and create partnerships for those with similar ideas on issues that are identified as either a biological or educational priority by them and by CBT,” continued Allen.
The EIP program includes a small grants stream, geared at projects under $5,000 and a large grants stream for projects up to $20,000.
CBT also understands that some community groups may need technical assistance in the development of their project ideas. In order to provide this support CBT is continuing its partnership with the Canadian Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Commission, The Land Conservancy of BC, and the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network. These partners provide stewardship advisors who provide technical support and assistance in application development. Applicants may be referred to the appropriate stewardship advisor based on either their location or project focus.
CBT will be hosting information sessions on the EIP on the following dates:
* May 12, 2009, 4-8 pm PDT at the CBT office in Castlegar (300,
445 – 13th Avenue)
* May 13, 2009, 4-8 pm MDT at the CBT office in Cranbrook (828D
Baker Street)
The EIP application form and guidelines are available at
www.cbt.org/Programs . For more
information contact Rick Allen by email or by phone at 1.800.505-8998.
Deadline for submitting an application is May 25, 2009 3:30 PDT,
delivered to any CBT office. Applications should clearly be labelled,
“EIP Program”.
CBT delivers economic, social, and environmental benefits to the
residents of the Columbia Basin. To learn more about CBT programs and initiatives, visit their website or call 1-800-505-8998.–submitted
