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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF $2.5 MILLION IN OPEN SPACE GRANTS PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has announced that it is now accepting applications from municipalities, non-profit environmental agencies, and land trusts for natural heritage preservation open space grants. A total of up to $2.5 million is available during this round of the grant program.Funding comes from the $70 million Open Space, Recreation, Bay and Watershed Protection Bond, proposed by Governor Carcieri and approved by voters in 2004, supplemented by funds from the 2000 Open Space bond. "Preservation of open space is vital to safeguarding our quality of life in Rhode Island," Governor Carcieri said. "Our foresight in funding these grants is keeping important open spaces for ourselves and our descendents to enjoy." The grants will provide up to 50 percent of funding, up to a maximum of $250,000, to preserve open space lands that possess significant natural, ecological, agricultural or scenic values, by direct purchase or conservation easements. Special consideration will be given to projects that provide linkages between or expansion of existing preserved lands. Applications will be accepted through September 26. They will be reviewed and ranked by the Natural Heritage Preservation Commission, through the Governor's Advisory Committee. The Commission will then recommend awards to DEM Director W. Michael Sullivan for review and approval. DEM expects to announce the grant awards in December. Grant applications, specific rules governing the grant program, and additional information is available from Lisa Primiano, supervisor of the land acquisition program at DEM's Division of Planning and Development, at 222-2776 ext. 4307, or via email at lisa.primiano@dem.ri.gov. Information and downloadable applications are also available on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Topics", then "Grants", then "Open Space Grants". Under the last round of grants for natural heritage open space preservation, issued in 2007, 17 projects across the state were funded. Almost 1,600 acres of land were acquired and protected, bolstering the state's campaign to enhance the quality of life for Rhode Islanders by preserving the state's most critical open space resources. -30- |
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