DNR NEWS

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

402 W. Washington St. W255 B

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2748

Phone: (317) 232-4200

For immediate release: Aug. 8, 2007

DNR’s Lake Michigan Coastal Program accepting pre-proposals for funding

            Local governments and other concerned organizations in Indiana's Lake Michigan coastal region take note. The DNR's Lake Michigan Coastal Program (LMCP) has started accepting pre-proposals for its 2008 funding cycle.

The deadline for submitting pre-proposals is Sept. 10 of this year. Competition for funding is expected to be stiff.

 “We received a record number of applications last year when we implemented the pre-proposal format," said Jenny Orsburn, LMCP Program Specialist. "We look forward to having yet another successful grant season.”

            Pre-proposals that receive favorable recommendation from the Coastal Advisory Board will then be eligible to submit a full proposal for the funding, which will be available in July 2008.

            Up to $800,000 will be awarded to units of local government, regional and state agencies, colleges and universities, and non-profit organizations though this annual competitive grants program. The program funds may be expended on low-cost construction, land acquisition, and planning and coordination, as well as education and outreach projects.  To be eligible, projects must be located entirely within the Lake Michigan Coastal area, which comprises the northern portion of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties.

            The program was created to coordinate efforts between local, state, and federal governments, as well as local organizations, and to support projects that protect and restore natural, cultural and historical resources in Indiana’s Lake Michigan region.

Funding for the program comes through the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Coastal Resource Management.

For more information, see http://www.in.gov/dnr/lakemich.

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Media contact: Mike Molnar, LMCP Program Manager, (317) 233-0132