|
Article audio is made possible by CAST11 Prescott Podcast Network. A Talking Glass Media production.
|
The Yavapai Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) is accepting grant proposals from December 13, 2021, through January 21, 2022, from federal agencies, state and local governments, tribal governments, private and nonprofit entities, and landowners for protection, restoration, and enhancement of resource conditions and roads/trail maintenance and obliteration. Projects can be on National Forest System lands and non-Federal lands where projects would benefit local communities.
Funds are from the Secure Rural Schools Program Title II Special Projects on Federal Lands and are generated from fees of multi-use activities such as grazing permits, timber production, and special use permits, which are retained by the forest service and allocated to specific projects under the authority of the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self- Determination Act.
Available Funds: Approximately $362,000 is available.
Project Proposal Eligibility: At least 50% of all project funds are to be used for projects that primarily benefit road maintenance, decommissioning, or obliteration; or restoration of streams and watersheds.
The following types of projects are eligible:
- Road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration
- Soil productivity improvement
- Forest ecosystem health improvements
- Watershed restoration, preservation, and maintenance
- Restoration, maintenance, and improvement of wildlife and fish habitat • Control of noxious and exotic weeds
- Re-establishment of native species
- Sustainable recreation opportunities
- Other (fire prevention, integrated pest management, etc.)
Project Proposal Evaluation
It is important to the Yavapai Resource Advisory Committee to solicit a diversity of proposals that support local communities and their ties to National Forest System lands, and that we work together to promote: community engagement, partnerships, collaboration, and local leadership; to improve the sustainability of local economies, ecological services and stewardship opportunities on public lands.
Project proposals will be evaluated on how well they address the goals listed above and demonstrate cost-effectiveness, enhance the quality of life in our region, provide employment opportunities, and improve watershed and ecosystem health. If projects can be scalable, please indicate how they can be scaled up or down and provide a corresponding budget. Applicants are encouraged to make proposals $75,000 or less.
Potential applicants need to discuss the proposal and have the support of the local District Ranger before submitting. For road projects, applicants should ensure the local District Ranger work with Forest Service engineers and County Road Department to plan and implement needed work.
The ACT allows funds to be used for the costs of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis, or for on-the-ground project implementation. All project proposals for on-the-ground project work need to be NEPA sufficient at the time of the proposal.
Proposal Submission:
Please use the Project Proposal Submission Form and ensure your proposal contains all the information in the Title II Submission Checklist. Additional information for applicants can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/prescott/workingtogether/advisorycommittees.
Please also review the Guidance for Applicants 2021-2022 for information and guidance for project applicants.
Please send completed proposals to Debbie Maneely, Yavapai RAC Coordinator at debbie.maneely@usda.gov or 735 Highway 89, Chino Valley, AZ 86323.
The deadline for submission of project proposals is Friday, January 21, 2022, at 6 p.m. Proposals submitted after 6 p.m. will not be accepted.
The Yavapai RAC will be reviewing proposals in a public meeting on March 1, 2022. The meeting announcement will be posted on the Prescott National Forest website and in the Federal register.
More information about the Title II Program is at https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/secure-rural-schools and information about Resource Advisory Committees, previous proposals, and templates can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/secure-rural-schools.
For questions regarding the Yavapai RAC, please contact RAC Coordinator, Debbie Maneely, debbie.maneely@usda.gov or 928-499-4736.
Catch up with more Local News Stories on Signals A Z.com.
Is your brand everywhere?
From the region’s #1 good news website SignalsA Z.com, the Quad Cities smart and beautiful magazine, TG Magazine, to Cast11 Podcast, and the region’s most prominent digital billboards, Talking Glass Media will get your business noticed! For more information visit www.TalkingGlass.Media, call 928-642-3552, or email info@talkingglass.media.
Leave a Reply