Grants - Fiscal Year 2008-09

Dec. 19, 2008 – BREAKING NEWS –  PLEASE READ!

PROP. 84 FUNDS FROZEN BY STATE,
SNC Projects Suspended Until Further Notice

You are no doubt aware of the serious fiscal situation faced by the State of California.  You may also have seen or heard media reports over the past couple of days regarding the State’s move to halt thousands of public works and other projects that are supported by General Obligation bond measures such as Proposition 50, Proposition 84 and others.  Proposition 84 is the sole funding source for all projects authorized by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC). 

The severe budget situation, which has contributed to the difficulty in selling bonds authorized under Proposition 84, has caused the Pooled Money Investment Board (PMIB) to freeze all funding for General Obligation bond programs (including the Proposition 84 bond program). The PMIB has taken this action to preserve necessary cash resources to pay the day-to-day operational needs of the state for the balance of the fiscal year, pending further action by the Board in January. 

Based on the action of the PMIB, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy has been instructed to take the follow actions effective December 18, 2008:

1. Suspend all grant-funded projects;
2. Suspend all payments on existing grants, including those that have received advances and those with invoices in process, until further notice;
3. Stop authorizing any new grants, including those awarded at the

December 4, 2008, SNC Board meeting.

Impacts to Existing Grantees

Based on the direction from the state Department of Finance, we must ask all existing grantees to stop work on their projects until further notice.  The SNC will not be able to pay out on any invoices that haven’t already been paid by close of business December 17, 2008.  This includes invoices received by the SNC that were moving through the approval process.  We will continue to keep our grantees updated as to any change relating to this suspension of work and reimbursements.  If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact your project lead.

Impacts to Projects Authorized at December 4, 2008, SNC Board Meeting

For those projects recently authorized by the SNC Board, we will not be able to finalize grant agreements and authorize work until the Department of Finance lifts this suspension.  We will continue to process agreements as usual, including sending them to grantees for signature, so that we will be in a position to move quickly if/when the suspension is lifted.  Authorized grantees can expect to receive their agreements, including more detailed instructions, in the next couple of weeks.  If you have any questions about this situation, please contact SNC Program Manager, Kerri Timmer, at 530-823-4670.  

Impacts to Potential Future Applicants

Until further notice we are moving forward with our second round of applications for the 2008-09 Strategic Opportunity Grant (SOG) program so that when this situation is resolved we can be ready to award grants as soon as possible.  If you were planning on applying for a SOG grant in our 2nd round, we encourage you to work with SNC project staff to develop your application and submit it by the original deadline of February 27, 2009. For application information and materials, please see below. 

We apologize for the short notice and understand that this action by the PMIB and Department of Finance will create significant impacts on our grant partners.  We will continue to keep you updated as to any change relating to this suspension of work, reimbursements and grant authorizations.  Thank you for your patience while we work out what this will mean for us and our grant partners.

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Thank you for your interest in the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Grants Programs.  The grants section of this website will provide interested applicants and grant recipients with all of the information and tools needed to apply for and manage a grant from the SNC.

GRANTS PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS

• SNC Board authorizes $2,627,832 in grant funds at its December 2008 Board Meeting (more info).
• REMINDER:  The next Strategic Opportunity Grant deadline is February 27th, 2009.  If you have an idea for a project or a grant application, please contact the appropriate Area Manager to discuss your idea in more detail.  See the Applying for a Grant Section of our website for additional information.
• SNC Detailed Performance Measure Descriptions are now available online.  Please visit our Applying for a Grant web pages for more information. 
• On July 30th and 31st, SNC held a Grants Application Process Webinar. Below please find links to the PowerPoint presentation from the webinars as well as the CEQA/NEPA materials referenced during the webinars. These materials may be helpful to you as you begin the SNC grant application process, however they should be used solely as reference material. Please feel free to contact the SNC for more information or with questions. Thank you.
  PowerPoint presentation
  CEQA/NEPA materials
• Proposition 84 Grants Guidelines and Grant Application Packets (GAP) for Fiscal Year 2008/09 are now available.  Anyone considering applying for a grant this year should carefully review the new Guidelines and application packets, as they have changed from previous published versions. 
  
  Once you are familiar with the Guidelines and determine which grant type will best meet your project needs, you may wish to review the appropriate companion Grant Application Packet (GAP).  There are three GAPs, one each for Competitive Grants, Strategic Opportunity Grants (Category 1) and Strategic Opportunity Grants (Category 2).  Upcoming deadlines for application submission are September 2, 2008 for first round SOG grants and September 15, 2008 for Competitive grants.

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CURRENT SNC GRANT PROGRAMS

Proposition 84 Grants Program

Background
In November 2006 California voters passed Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coast Protection Bond Act of 2006 (the Act).  Proposition 84 authorizes the State to issue bonds and the Legislature to appropriate bond proceeds for the protection and restoration of rivers, lakes and streams, their watersheds and associated land, water and other natural resources.  Proposition 84 allocates $54 million to the SNC to fund projects that help to meet these goals.  This funding serves as the basis for the SNC Proposition 84 Grants Program. 

General Information
SNC Proposition 84 Grants funds are allocated in two grant categories:  Competitive Grants and Strategic Opportunity Grants (SOGs).  For additional details please visit the Applying for a Grant portion of the SNC website and view the SNC Grant Guidelines for FY 08-09. 

Subject to enactment of the Fiscal Year 08-09 State budget, SNC expects approximately $17 million in funds to be allocated as follows: 

• Approximately $7 million will be allocated through Competitive Grants across the Region to meet the purposes of the SNC;
• Approximately $6 million will be allocated as SOGs to eligible applicants to address needs across the SNC’s six subregions ($1 million for each subregion);
• Approximately $1 million in SOGs will be allocated to projects that have Region-wide significance;
• Up to $3 million may be allocated by the SNC Board among grant categories based on a determination of the greatest opportunity to achieve the SNC mission. This allocation would occur following the initial processing of grant applications in September 2008. 

Competitive Grants
Competitive Grants will be awarded across the entire SNC Region on an annual cycle, with the intent of awarding the full amount of funding in one cycle. 

• Approximately $7 million is available in Competitive Grant funding for the entire SNC Region;
• Application deadline is set for September 15, 2008;
• For grants between $250,000 and $1,000,000;
• For acquisition and site improvement/restoration projects;
• Authorized by the SNC Board in March 2009.

Strategic Opportunity Grants
Strategic Opportunity Grants will be awarded within the SNC subregions and the Region-wide allocation in two rounds, with the intent to award roughly half the funding in each round. 

• Approximately $1 million is available for each of the SNC subregions ($6 million total), and an additional $1 million is available for projects of Region-wide significance;
• Application deadlines are set for September 2, 2008, and February 27, 2009;
• Strategic Opportunity Grants are offered in two categories:
  • SOG Category 1 (SOG 1)
    • For grants between $5,000 and $250,000
    • For acquisition, site improvement and restoration projects only
    • Authorized by the SNC Board in December 2008 and June 2009;
  • SOG Category 2 (SOG 2)
    • For grants up to $500,000
    • For projects that do not include acquisition or site improvement/restoration
    • Authorized by the SNC Board in December 2008 and June 2009
    • May be authorized by the Executive Officer for time-sensitive requests up to $50,000.

Applying for a Grant
If you are interested in applying for a Sierra Nevada Conservancy grant, please visit the Applying for a Grant section of this website.  Here you will find the SNC Grant Guidelines and Grants Application Packets for each of the grant types the SNC offers.  The Guidelines describe in detail the deadlines and process by which the SNC solicits grant applications, evaluates grant proposals and awards grants under the Proposition 84 Grants Program.  The Guidelines will help you determine which grant type to apply for and will direct you to the correct application packet. 

Managing Your Grant
Current Grantees are encouraged to visit the SNC Managing Your Grant web page.  Here you will find tools and instructions for managing your grant, including instructions and forms for requesting advance payments and submitting grant invoices.  

Projects Under Consideration
For information about projects under consideration in any given grant cycle, please visit the Projects Being Considered page. 

Awarded Projects
In FY 07-08, the SNC awarded $16,964,568 in Proposition 84 Grants.  To see a list and brief descriptions of the grants awarded, please visit the Awarded Projects page of this site. You will also find a link to the State of California’s Strategic Growth Plan Bond Accountability website, where you can find information on grants awarded by the SNC and other State agencies using bond funds approved by the voters of the State of California.