Great Lakes Article:

Environmental grants available for Great Lakes Basin Projects
Northwest Indiana Times
08/23/03

Save the Dunes Conservation Fund is announcing the fall funding cycle of the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Fund. Grants are available for grassroots advocacy projects that will protect aquatic habitats in Indiana's Great Lakes Basin.

The Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Fund (GLAHF) is co-administered by environmental organizations throughout the Great Lakes region to provide small grants for citizen environmental action projects. Save the Dunes Conservation Fund (SDCF) serves as the Indiana Network Hub for GLAHF. Individuals or organizations can receive grants of $500 - $3500 to support community-based initiatives. The goal of the grants program is to provide financial support to advocacy activities that strengthen the role of citizens working locally to protect and restore shorelines, inland lakes, rivers, wetlands, and other aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes Basin. Examples of eligible projects include influencing the development and enforcement of regulatory decisions and building capacity of grassroots organizations. Also, this year is the first of a two-year wetlands theme for GLAHF, so a portion of the available funds will be dedicated specifically to wetland projects.

This past spring, the Residents for Environmental Action and Community Health (REACH) of Fort Wayne, IN received a grant of $797.00 to promote more effective and less toxic methods of controlling West Nile Virus (WNV) in their community. The REACH project includes a public education campaign through the media, community involvement in "stagnant water" clean-up days, and more environmentally safe methods for larvaciding. REACH's past efforts have been successful in building community awareness and support for dealing with the mosquito problem in a more effective and environmentally friendly way.

In addition to the main grants program described above, there is a Special Opportunity Grants Program with the same guidelines that offers up to $500 for urgent projects or those that present a special opportunity. Applications to this grants program are welcome at any time.

The GLAHF grant application, available on the web at http://www.glhabitat.org or by request, provides a complete list of the particular areas of interest and guidelines for applying. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Sandra Wilmore of SDCF (219 879 3564 or sand@savedunes.org) to discuss proposal ideas. Individuals and organizations without nonprofit status, in particular, should work with SDCF prior to submitting an application.