Navigating the Long Island Sound Futures Fund 2023 Grant Opportunity for Massachusetts Agricultural Communities
Over $10 million in funding is available in 2023 through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound (“the Sound”). This webinar will help attendees link water quality funding to the implementation of agricultural practices in Western Massachusetts. Attendees will learn more about grant opportunities through the LISFF, important tips for creating a competitive proposal, and have a chance to discuss specific project ideas with the funders.
Intended Audience: Conservation districts and local working groups (including agricultural producers, owners/operators of nonindustrial private forest land), professionals representing agricultural and natural resource interests, and individuals representing a variety of disciplines in the soil, water, wetland, plant, forestry, and wildlife sciences.
To learn more about the upcoming workshop please contact Kim Groff, Project Partner, Throwe Environmental, LLC, at Kim@throwe environmental.com.
Hourly Schedule
Tentative Agenda
- 1:00PM - 1:05PM
- Welcome Remarks – What is new in 2023: Technical assistance and funding opportunities!
- M. Leff, Executive Director Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) will welcome attendees and highlight opportunities in western mass to get engaged with funding and technical assistance in 2023.
- 1:05PM - 1:15PM
- The time is now to engage with grant funders
- With unprecedented funding available this is a call to action from the Massachusetts Natural Resource Conservation Service, Service Center to help solve our water quality and environmental challenges. NRCS will showcase what is new and why this is the time to seek assistance and get your project started.
- 1:15PM - 1:25PM
- Case Study Highlight: Tips to creating a successful project
- Iain Ward. of New England Consulting Services, shares case studies and helpful tips for getting projects with multiple benefits off the ground.
- 1:25PM - 1:55PM
- The Long Island Sound Futures Fund Spotlight –Tips for Creating a Competitive Proposal
- - Lynn Dwyer, Long Island Sound Futures Fund Program Director, will offer an insider’s perspective on the “do’s and don’ts” of creating a compelling proposal. What are the key factors that make your project eligible and competitive? How to navigate project phases for planning, design and implementation? What practices are eligible for LISFF funding as well as the resources for estimating the water quality and other benefits of your project.
- 1:55PM - 2:25PM
- Meet the Funders
- Potential applicants will have the opportunity to meet with funders to answer specific questions, share more details about grant programs, discuss proposal ideas, or think through match requirements to help prepare for proposal submission. Particpants are enocuraged to bring their project ideas and can download the LISFF Project Brainstorming Worksheet here. Please fill out and return the brainstorming worksheet to Kim Groff via email at Kim@throweenvironmental.com no later than 24 hours prior to the start of the webinar (March 1, 2023 at 1 PM).