Michigan: River, Stream and Creek Cleanup Grants Available for 2008

The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) are pleased to announce the release of the 2008 Grant Application Package (GAP) for Michigan’s Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup Program (VRSCCP). A total of $25,000 (plus carryover from FY 2007) is available under the program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. This funding is provided by the MDEQ through fees collected from the sale of the State’s Water Quality Protection license plates (Public Act 74 of 2000). The application deadline for Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup grants is January 25, 2008.

The Michigan VRSCCP provides small grants to local units of government to help implement the cleanup and improvement of the waters of Michigan’s rivers, streams, and creeks. Local units of government may partner with nonprofit organizations or other volunteer groups to carry out the cleanups. There is a minimum local match requirement of 25 percent of the total project costs.

The Volunteer Stream Cleanup GAP and application instructions are available online at http://www.glc.org/streamclean/app08. The GAP contains detailed instructions, including eligibility requirements and other information for developing a proposal, evaluation criteria, and items that should be included with your application. Applications will be reviewed and assessed by GLC and MDEQ staff, with final decisions anticipated in March 2007. Contractual arrangements will be facilitated by the GLC, which is administering the VRSCCP on behalf of the MDEQ.

Once again, the deadline for submitting grant applications under the FY 2008 Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup Program is January 25, 2008. If you have questions regarding the GAP or your application, please contact John Hummer at the Great Lakes Commission at 734-971-9135 or jhummer@glc.org.