| Communities and local organizations interested in
protecting rare habitat or improving access to locally favorite
fishing spots may eligible to receive funds available for Lake
Michigan coastal programs. Organizations wanting to educate
residents about the rich history of Northwest Indiana or impacts on
the changing landscape may also be eligible for a grant to do so.
Communities like Portage, Valparaiso, Hobart, Michigan City and
Gary have already implemented projects with coastal program funding
during the past years.
Representatives from communities and local organizations
interested in submitting applications for the Lake Michigan coastal
program 2007 funding cycle are invited to attend upcoming grant
workshops. Potential applicants will be able to seek guidance on
project eligibility and receive answers to their application
questions.
The workshops will take on added importance this year because the
process for the 2007 grants is new and includes a pre-application in
place of a full application. Intended to make the process easier for
applicants and encourage more project submittals, the DNR highly
recommends that potential applicants attend one of the free
workshops to learn about the new process and requirements.
The grant workshops will be held in each of the three program
area counties (all times local):
 | Tuesday, Aug. 22 ? Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center 1 to
3 p.m.; |
| Wednesday, Aug. 23 ? Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201
Parrish Ave., Hammond, 2:30 to 4 p.m.; |
| Thursday, Aug. 24 ? Michigan City Public Library 10 a.m. to
noon. |
The purpose of the Lake Michigan Coastal Program is to support
partnerships among local, state, and federal agencies and local
organizations for the protection and sustainable use of natural and
cultural resources in the Lake Michigan region.
Projects eligible for grant funding must be located entirely in
the northern portion of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. For a
map of the grant area, visit the following Web site:
www.in.gov/dnr/lakemich/pdf/cpa.pdf.
The Lake Michigan coastal grants program?s updated application
and guidance are available for download at
www.in.gov/dnr/lakemich/grants/coastalgrants.html, or by e-mail
at coastal@dnr.in.gov. |
