Niagara County Environmental Fund Sets New Planning Grants

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Niagara County Environmental Fund (NCEF) is announcing a total of approximately $775,000 in new funds available for Legacy Projects that will provide long-lasting impact to Niagara County's environment and/or understanding of its environment.

It is anticipated that this round of Legacy Projects likely will be larger in scope than those historically funded by NCEF and will be heavily leveraged with significant partnering.

Individuals or groups seeking assistance in the preparation of proposals to NCEF are encouraged to attend informal workshops on an overview of the NCEF proposal process and general guidelines on how to clearly structure and write a proposal for this funding.

Two workshops will be held: at 5 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Community Meeting Room of the Lockport Public Library, 23 East Ave., Lockport, and at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 in the second floor auditorium of the Niagara Falls Public Library, 1425 Main St., Niagara Falls.

Organizations seeking NCEF Legacy Project funding are required to first submit Legacy Project Planning Grant Proposals for funding consideration. During the planning grant cycle, $25,000 is available for all Legacy Project Planning Grants with a maximum funding level of $5,000 per project.

Only projects that receive Legacy Project Planning Grant funding will be considered for Legacy Project funding, the duration of which can be up to three years.

Completed Legacy Project Planning Grant proposals are due on Nov. 30.

Legacy projects build on the traditional themes of the NCEF, including environmental education and restoration, and have broad appeal and benefit within Niagara County.

The NCEF was established in 1997 to provide grants to encourage, inspire and facilitate activities by volunteers, seasonal employees, organizations and educational institutions to enhance, restore, maintain, care for and provide access to Niagara County's environment and ecology, as well as educate people about the county's environment.

The NCEF has been administered by the New York State Center for Hazardous Waste Management, part of the Center for Integrated Waste Management, in the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, since its formation in 1997.

For information regarding individual projects and general questions concerning the NCEF Legacy Project Planning process, or to obtain an NCEF application, please contact Scott Weber, Ph.D., professor and chair of the UB Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at (716) 645-2114, ext 2331, or by email at hazwaste@acsu.buffalo.edu.