Southeastern Massachusetts Grant Funding Workshop

Funding Nature Based Community Resilience in Southeastern Massachusetts 

In Person Part 2 Workshop- RESCHEDULED
NEW DATE: March 13th, 9:30am – 12:30pm @ Bridgewater State University
Student Union Building Second Floor (ADA accessible) Demonstration Room Bridgewater State University
19 Park Avenue
Bridgewater, MA 02325
Link to Campus Map
Recording to part 1 available here.

Please fill out the registration form at the end of this webpage to register for the workshop!
(If you had registered for the orginal date, February 28th, you do NOT need to re-register for the March 13th date.)

Registration, Coffee and Networking begins at 9:30AM
Workshop Flier available here!

Workshop Description:

One of the challenges for communities working to improve community resilience to climate change impacts is identifying the appropriate funding mechanism to support projects and develop competitive grant applications. There are several funding programs available in Massachusetts for this work, many with a focus on nature based solutions, but there is much confusion around the various opportunities and which projects are the best fit for each. Furthermore, once communities identify a grant program of interest, it is often difficult to navigate grant requirements and craft a competitive proposal. This workshop will highlight key grant programs available in Massachusetts and the priorities of each, in order to help identify the best program for a project and what makes a competitive application.

By attending this workshop, attendees will:

  • Be introduced to key nature based climate resilience grant programs that are available to communities in southeastern Massachusetts
  • Learn how to match a project to a funding agency and/or program
  • Learn best practices for developing a competitive proposal
  • Talk directly with funders and field liaisons about specific sources of funding


Attendees are encouraged to bring specific project ideas for discussion with and feedback from grant program representatives

In-Person Workshop Agenda:

Call to Order, Mary Waldron, Executive Director, Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC)

10:00am-10:05am: Welcome &  Introductory Remarks, Mark Carmody, Associate Vice President for Operations Bridgewater State University
10:05-10:15am: Why Nature Based Solutions and Why the Time is NOW to Take Action, Mike Gerel, Executive Director, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
10:15am-11:15am: Panel discussion: “Navigating Nature Based Resilience Funding”, Facilitator Danica Belknap, Senior Environmental Planner, SRPEDD

  • Kate Bentsen, Ecological Restoration Specialist, DER
  • Courtney Rocha, Southeast Regional Coordinator, MVP
  • Tom Ardito, Director, SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants
  • Patricia Bowie, Coastal Resiliency Specialist, CZM
  • Meghan Selby, 604(b) Grant Administrator, DEP
  •  

11:15am-11:20am: Closing remarks
11:20am-12:30pm: Funder Networking

Participants can rotate between funders to discuss programs in more detail and get feedback on specific project ideas.

Participating Programs:

  • Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program
  • Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program
  • Priority Ecological Restoration Project Program
  • In-Lieu Fee Program
  • 319 Nonpoint Source Grants
  • 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Grants
  • MS4 Municipal Assistance Program
  • National Coastal Resilience Fund
  • Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Watershed Implementation Grants
  • Habitat Restoration Project Planning in the Narragansett Bay Region


Target Audience:

Municipalities (and non-profits working directly with communities to administer grants) with interest in applying for grants to support the implementation of nature based water quality restoration and infrastructure projects that improve climate resilience in Southeastern Massachusetts.

This event is organized by:
                                                  

In-Person Workshop Registration Below:

Upon registration, you will receive an email that we received your submission. Following your submission, we will notify you with more details about the workshop.

 The workshop will be held on March 13th, 2023 from 9:30am-12:30pm at Bridgewater State University.