Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) is now accepting community-initiated and community-supported project applications for its Environmental Initiatives Program (EIP).
“This program has been very successful in the past and we want to continue to see the projects it supports making a difference in Basin communities,” Rick Allen, CBT program manager for the environment, said in a statement released Thursday.
This program has provided over $3.5 million in funding over the past six years for environmental conservation, restoration, stewardship and education projects across the Basin. This year, CBT has increased program funding by 40 per cent to $630,000 and is asking residents and groups in the Columbia Basin to submit innovative project ideas that will help maintain or enhance environmental conditions in and around their communities. The EIP program includes a small grants stream for projects under $5,000 and a large grants stream for projects up to $20,000. The EIP application form and guidelines are available at www.cbt.org/programs and the deadline to apply is 3:30 PST March 19, 2010.
CBT is continuing to improve access to the program again this year by hosting four community information sessions, which will give participants the opportunity to speak to CBT staff and the stewardship advisors directly about their project ideas before submitting their applications.
The Revelstoke session will take place on Feb. 22.
Advance registration for the information session is required. Sessions must have a minimum of ten registered participants. Please RSVP to golden@cbt.org by February 18, 2010. Detailed locations and times will be given at time of registration.
CBT also understands that some community groups may need technical assistance in the development of their project ideas. In order to provide this support CBT will make stewardship advisors available to those who require this assistance.
For more information about submitting an application, contact Rick Allen at rallen@cbt.org or Tracy Amies at tamies@cbt.org or call 1-800-505-8998.
